County Roscommon native co-chairs New York City independence celebrations
Boyle native Hilary Beirne is part of the team organising public commemorations in New York City ahead of the planned 250 year celebrations of United States independence.
A Boyle native is part of the team organising public commemorations in New York City ahead of the planned 250 year celebrations of United States independence.
The event, ‘City Hall to Bowling Green — Independence Day in New York’ will take place this Thursday, July 9th when New Yorkers will gather at Lower Manhattan.
It was on July 9th, 1776, when news of independence first reached ‘The Big Apple,’ and the Declaration of Independence was first read out.
Later that day New Yorkers marched from Broadway to Bowling Green and in a symbol of the powerful rejection of British rule, pulled down the statue of King George III.
Boyle native Hilary Beirne, co-chair of the event, highlighted the importance of the date that comes after the traditional Independence Day celebrations Stateside.
“July 4th is America’s national birthday, but July 9th is the day independence came to life in New York City,” he said.
“The Declaration was read here. The people acted here. The King’s statue came down here. That story deserves to be remembered by every New Yorker,” he said.
Veterans, students, cultural organisations, historical societies, immigrant communities, religious institutions, elected officials, and individual New Yorkers are all expected to take part.
