Irish American Heritage Museum

A museum dedicated to recording and presenting the history and heritage of the Irish in America.

Changing exhibits, research library, family programs, and lectures.

New Exhibit “Irish in Military Service” To Open Memorial Day Weekend!

"General Meagher leads the Irish Brigade at the Battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia 1862 (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

“Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland;
Some have come from a land beyond the wave.
Sworn to be free, No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal'
Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song.”

-A Soldiers Song (Irish National Anthem) by Padrig Pearse

For centuries, Irish have been involved in conflicts both at home and abroad, and now the Irish American Heritage Museum’s newest exhibit will chronicle these conflicts in Ireland as well as the stories of the Irish who fought in their adoptive lands.

"This exhibit will have something for people interested in any period of history, from medieval times to current events," said the Museum's Research and Grants Director, Will Raup. "While we do focus a lot on historic events, we also wanted to be one of the first Museums to help chronicle and preserve the stories and honor of our most recent veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Exhibit focuses more on the human aspect of these conflicts, looking at the men and women of Irish descent and the role they played in each conflict. As part of this exhibit, the Museum is looking for veterans, their friends or descendants to aid the exhibit by contributing to our “Irish in Military Service” history project, where the Museum hopes to collect the stories of Irish-American veterans for future generations. For more information on the project, contact the Museum at (518) 432-6598.

"Irish in Military Service" will open Saturday May 23 of Memorial Day weekend 2009 at the Irish American Heritage Museum Exhibit Center, Rt. 145, East Durham, Greene County, New York. Hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm to 4pm through Labor Day (Sept. 7).

Irish American Heritage Museum Permanent Collection

"Great Hunger" commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Irish Potato Famine
"Corporate Irish" focuses on the Irish and Irish Americans who made contributions to the corporate world.
"Home for the Heart" story of 150 years of Irish Immigration to the United States
"Dublin '63' images"
"Irish and Labor" highlights the contributions of the Irish and Irish-Americans to the labor movement in the United States.
"American Presidents of Irish Descent' biographies of 19 Presidents with Irish roots"
"Fire upon the Hearth: A Celebration of Irish Women in America"
"The Irish in Religion: The Contribution of the Indigenous Orders of Ireland."