Where in the ADK? Irishtown
A piece of Irish heritage in the Adirondacks.
This week's "Where in the ADK?" comes from the Town of Minerva, or Irishtown, to be exact. Located in the southwestern corner of Essex County in the Adirondack Park (roughly 90 miles north of Albany), Minerva was founded in the early 1800s.
It only seems appropriate that during the week before St. Patrick's Day, we feature a little piece of Irish heritage in the ADK.
The origins of Irishtown in the Adirondacks.
In 1823, a group of Irish families — the O'Neils, Donnellys, the Dougherty family, and Kellys — purchased the northeastern part of the Minerva, and so the area became known as Irishtown.
In 1848, Irishtown residents erected St. Mary's Church surrounded by a cemetery. The faithful followed when a larger Catholic church was built in nearby Olmsteadville, yet St. Mary's still survives. Every May, parishioners hold a Memorial Mass and an occasional baptism or wedding.
In 1847, the Town Board authorized $14 to build a school in Irishtown made from logs. The school year lasted for four months back then, perhaps in anticipation of inclement winter weather or to accommodate the farming schedule.
In 1860, a school was built to replace the log school. It was situated just east of St. Mary's Church and its cemetery. The school has been built and rebuilt numerous times and still stands today.
For more information on Irishtown, visit the Town of Minerva website.
Visit places near Irishtown and Minerva.
Find St. Mary’s Church in Irishtown, near Minerva, NY.
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Events in the area.
During PRIDE Month, Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh hosts a new installation, Hues of Identity.
Free Fishing Days are back in New York State. On Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, 2024, residents and non-residents can fish without a freshwater fishing license.
Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain hosts their four-day celebration of the 4th of July starting on July 1.
It’s non-stop fun at Ticonderoga’s four-day celebration of the 4th of July.
Fort Ticonderoga in the Adirondacks commemorates the eve of the American Revolution with a unique food event.
Day 3 of Ticonderoga’s four-day, family-friendly celebration of the 4th of July.
Fort Ticonderoga brings the Bravo-Real-Housewives-worthy drama with its “Drinsk + Drama” program. They will dish the dirt on all the scandals and hanky-panky that went down at Fort Ti.
Kick-off the 4th of July in the Adirondacks at Schroon Lake’s summer concert series.
Start your 4th of July with a fun run for a good cause in Essex, NY Lake Champlain.
Spend the day celebrating the 4th of July in Schroon Lake.
Enjoy the 4th of July on Lake Champlain in the Adirondacks with an Independence Day parade and a town-wide celebration.
Celebrate the 4th of July in Ticonderoga — parades, food, live music, fireworks and more.
Visit Minerva on the July 4th weekend for a parade, live music, fun, games, and fireworks.
The City of Plattsburgh hosts the 2023 Mayor’s Cup Festival and Regatta at the Plattsburgh City Beach in partnership with Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club.
Visit a historic lighthouse on Lake Champlain over the 4th of July weekend.
William Shatner returns to the Star Trek Original Set Tour in Ticonderoga July 12-14, 2024.
Kick off the summer season in the Adirondacks with a free, family-friendly fun festival.
Celebrate Chestertown’s historical 225th Anniversary in Warren County, NY.
EagleMania and The Brass Machine headline Gore Mountain’s summer music fest.