The Irish Mission at Watson House Exhibition Opening

The Irish Mission at Watson House at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in lower Manhattan was officially opened on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Speakers at the opening including Dr. Maureen Murphy of Hofstra University, Noel Kilkenny, Consul General of Ireland, and Kathleen Lynch, an Irish Minister of State for Equality.

The Digital Archives are now open.  The website can be found at:  http://watsonhouse.org/home/

The website “endeavors to remember the efforts of those who created the Irish Mission for Immigrant Girls in New York City. The story begins in Ireland with Charlotte Grace O’Brien’s inspiration and courage to actually do something about the appalling emigration conditions she observed first-hand on the docks in Queenstown. And, it continues with the commitment of the Catholic clergy and countless others to help over 100,000 women immigrants. The Mission Record Books on the emigration arrivals of the Irish women are part of the collection of the Our Lady of the Rosary, Saint Elizabeth Seton Shrine, here at Watson House, and will be part of a planned future Irish heritage and genealogical center.”