The emigrants are buried in a mass grave in Lynbrook.  The memorial service took place at the corner of Merrick Rd and Ocean Ave in Lynbrook (across from US Lumber) at the monument in the cemetery.

About 100 people attended the event, including National Historian Mike McCormack, National Editor John O’Connell, New York State Vice President Jim Burke and Nassau County President Mike Byrne.

Below is an article from the last Hibernian Digest by Mike McCormack:

The immigrant voyage of millions of Irish to America in the nineteenth century was staggering in its hardship.  Many know of the Coffin Ships during the Great Hunger and the incredible death toll associated with the 6 to 8 week journey on inadequate vessels designed for hauling cargo rather than passengers.  However, little known but just as significant were the tragedies attending those who fled the imposed cruelties in Ireland before the blight even occurred in 1845.  Before that tragedy, mass emigration from Ireland accounted for one- third of all traffic across the Atlantic.  Between 1825 and 1840, 220,000 Irish emigrated to the U.S. at a time when there were few maritime or immigration regulations in place.

Perhaps none who ventured across the Atlantic seeking a better life had as tragic an end as the 100 Irish men, women and children who set forth on October 16, 1836 on the ship Bristol and the 116 who followed 8 days later on the ship Mexico.  Little remembered today, both of these ships wrecked, with a loss of 216 lives, off Long Island’s south shore within weeks of each other.  The double-tragedy shocked all who read the spectacular headlines for months to come. The wrecks were among the deadliest maritime accidents in U.S. history up to that time.  Their fates brought about  sweeping changes in the government’s neglect of the maritime industry, with measures to insure safer travel, including tasking federal ships with sea rescues which evolved into the Coast Guard.  So many avoidable deaths so close to land and perishing so horribly, gripped the nation’s emotions.  Even  Walt Whitman  wrote about the event in his poem, The Sleepers, from Leaves of Grass.

I look where the ship helplessly heads end on, I hear the burst as she strikes,
I hear the howls of dismay, They grow fainter and fainter.

The Bristol departed Liverpool on Oct. 15 and reached the shores off Far Rockaway on Sunday, November 20 awaiting a pilot escort to guide them through the Narrows.  Local boatmen acted as pilots bringing arriving vessels into port safely.  Though licensed by the harbor, pilots were generally self-employed.  The ship waited for a pilot to arrive, but the New York pilots, who had little regulation and cared less for Irish immigrants, ignored the captain’s signaling, preferring not to work on Sunday!  Later that evening, a storm and strong currents drove the Bristol toward Rockaway Shoals.  The ship grounded and the captain told the passengers to go below and give the crew a better chance to work on deck.  In about an hour, a tremendous wave struck.  Life boats  and everything moveable were swept off the deck. The hatches were ripped off and the vessel filled with water.  Of the 82 steerage passengers below, none but a few close to the hatchways, were saved.  Not a sound was heard; death was instantaneous as 60 persons swam unprepared, into eternity.

The Mexico left Liverpool eight days later but had a more difficult crossing, encountering storms and pummeling seas.  She took twice as long as the Bristol, to reach New York.  Arriving on New Year’s Eve, Captain Charles Winslow signaled for a pilot, but callously, the pilots had adjourned to a Manhattan saloon to ring in the New Year.  Winslow tried to keep the ship away from the treacherous shoreline while he waited for a pilot to respond to his signals, but currents and a storm carried his ship to the Long Beach shore.  The ship was also overloaded with a cargo of iron bars and coal, which added to the difficulties in controlling her.  To the  owners, the passengers were simply another commodity, occupying a cargo deck leased to a passenger broker.  The crew, weakened by the weeks of battling high winds and flailing seas, and hampered by freezing temperatures, lost both lifeboats in launch attempts.  Not till 3 p.m. did a rescue boat reach the Mexico, led by 51-year-old local wreck-master Raynor Smith, who ignored the perils posed to his long boat and six-man crew.

He took in 8 survivors, including Capt. Winslow, 4 crew members, and 3 passengers who had volunteered to help the crew.  The remaining famished and terrified passengers were left behind praying that the boat, or others like it, would return for them.  As day turned to night, Smith, his crew and other would-be rescuers refused to risk another trip to the Mexico as the seas churned unabated.  The weather was so intensely cold, that it was difficult for anyone to remain on deck longer than half an hour at a time.  Fifteen minutes after the rescue boat had departed, the ship struck the bottom at Hempstead beach, not more than a cable’s length from the shore.  It is believed that none drowned, but all froze to death.

A correspondent for the Morning Courier and New York Express later reported: When (passengers) perceived that no further help came from the land, their piercing shrieks were distinctly heard at a considerable distance, and continued through the night until one by one they diminished. The next morning the bodies of the many unhappy creatures were seen lashed to different parts of the wreck, embedded in ice.  Of the 104 victims, two-thirds were women and children, all of whom stood praying on the deck of their broken ship in zero-degree weather just 200 yards off Long Beach where they slowly froze to death in sight of the land of their dreams.  Only their tears made it to shore!

Below are pictures from the ceremony by Rose Byrne.

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Thomas J. Lilly joined Division 8 back in 1968 and became a full member in 1971. He served as a three time President of the Division, worked on the Pro-Life and Freedom for All Ireland Committees in Nassau County and served as Legal Council for the National FFAI Committee back in the early 1980s. He heled the AOH fight for prisoners rights in Northern Ireland, including arranging a health furlough for Terry Kirbey in 1979. He currently serves as Division 8′s Historian.

Tom is a native of the Flatlands area of Brooklyn, the youngest of three children born to Frank Lilly and Mary Ellen Kelly of Mary Queen of Heaven parish.  He attended Most Holy Trinity High School in Brooklyn.  Tom then spent three years at Maryknoll College and later graduated with a B.A. degree from St. John’s University.

After four years in the Navy, mostly aboard the aircraft carrier Coral Sea in the Near East, Mediterranean and Caribbean he resumed his educational career, earning a J.D. Degree at night from Fordham Law School, becoming a member of the Bar in 1961.  Later, also at night, he received an LLM at N.Y.U. Law School.

Tom was appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.  He went on to start his own practice and is very sell known in the area of labor relations and employment law.  He has taught in that field as a professor at the Xavier Institute, C.W. Post, and at Cornell School of Industrial-Labor Relations.

A bright thread running through the tapestry of Tom’s life is his resolve to put into practice Christ’s teaching of service to our brothers and sisters, especially to the “least among us”.  This dedication led him to devote his legal career to the protection of the rights of working people to organize to defend themselves and promote their interests.  It led him to unswerving advocacy on behalf of the unborn and their mothers and his position as a board member of Momma’s House.  That dedication is also the impetus for his tireless efforts in support of our neighbors who need assistance in hard times.  Tom has had a lifelong devotion to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, emulating his father as a longtime member.  He has served as President of the Nassau-Suffolk Central Board and is currently President of the St. Boniface Conference of that Society.

The principle of service to community also led Tom to political involvement as the local Democratic leader in Sea Cliff.  In the 1980’s he spearheaded the presidential campaign of Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson on Long Island and former DA Denis Dillon has credited Tom as the first person to encourage him to run for public office.  Tom, himself, has also run for office.

In 1958 he married Marge Doherty of Park Slope.  They later moved to Sea Cliff, where they have resided for over forty years.  They have of four children, Thomas and Joseph, (both attorneys), Mary Jo and Sean (both teachers), and are the grandparents of Thomas, Eileen, Sarah, Jones and Catherine Lilly.

Tom and Marge are active members of St. Boniface Martyr Parish in Sea Cliff.  He served as President of the Parish Council, was fundraising captain for the parish, taught Religious Education classes and belonged to the Nocturnal Adoration Society.  A parish publication in 1973 declared that “the name Thomas Joseph Lilly has become synonymous with St. Boniface School”, where he served as Chairman of the School Board for many years.

He will be honored by Division 8 on January 13th with a testimonial dinner.

The Feis (pronounced Fesh – an Irish word for dancing competition) and Festival will include a lineup of competitive events, including dancing competitions on all levels, pipe and drum band events, and singing, music, Irish art and soda bread contests.

There will be food, drinks, an Irish village of vendors and games for the young children. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Musical guests will be the Irish band, the Sporting Paddies.

Admission is $10 for adults. Children under 16 will be admitted free.

This year, the Feis will honor its longtime chairman, Edward F. Friel, who retired from heading up the event after the 2009 feis.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Friel, who was the chairman from 2003-2009. “It means even more to me because I am following in the footsteps of my Uncle John.”

Friel’s Uncle John is former Feis Chairman and AOH National Life Member John Bownes, who passed away last year.

Friel is a longtime member of the Padraic Pearse Division 3 of the AOH in the Five Towns. He has served on the division, county and state levels of the AOH, while also heading up special events such as the Feis and AOH county ball.

He is also on the board of directors of the Irish Americans in Government and is a member of St. Mary’s Morris Stella Council of the Knights of Columbus and a Fourth Degree Member of the Steven Moylan General Assembly.

He lives in Westbury, NY with his wife, Nina, and they have three married children.

This will be the third consecutive year the Feis and Festival will be held at Molloy College as part of Irish Studies Institute Program. The Feis expects around 2,000 attendees for this year’s celebration.

More information on the Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians’ Irish Feis and Festival can be found on its website: www.nassauaohfeis.com.

About Molloy College: Molloy College, an independent Catholic college based in Rockville Centre, was founded in 1955. The College is a mid-sized, comprehensive Master’s institution that serves a student population of approximately 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students.  Molloy students can earn degrees in a variety of outstanding academic programs, including nursing, business, education, social work, music therapy and many more.

About The Irish Studies Institute: The Irish Studies Institute at Molloy College illuminates and documents the central role Irish Americans have played and continue to play in the United States, and extend and enrich exchanges between Irish Americans and those from other cultural backgrounds.  The Institute highlights the rich history, integration and cultural exchanges of the Irish throughout New York, the metropolitan area and beyond.

About the Nassau County Feis Corporation, Inc.: A not for profit company whose members are comprised of the Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians. The Feis Corporation’s purpose is to plan, promote and implement the Feis and Festival every year.

About the Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians:  Founded in 1836, the Ancient Order of Hibernians is the largest Irish Catholic organization in the United States. With almost 35,000 members nationwide, almost 10,000 in New York State and almost 900 residing in the eight Divisions in Nassau County. Membership is open at all men age 16 and over, who are of Irish birth or ancestry, and are practicing Catholics. For more information, please visit their website at www.nassauaoh.com or contact Nassau County Organizer James Henry at organizer@nassauaoh.com.

Jim Burke of Division 15 was successful in his bid for Vice President, while Division 8’s John O’Connell was elected District 6 Director. O’Connell was also named National Editor of the Hibernian Digest.

And outgoing District 6 Director Vic Vogel of Division 7 in Suffolk County won a three man race for State Treasurer.

Also from Division 15 Jack Ryan was re-appointed as the state’s Veteran’s Affairs chairman by new President Mike McNabb, while Division 8’s Joe McDonald took over the state’s website as Webmaster.

Congratulations to our Nassau County’s new state officers.

“I am so honored this day,” said Stafford. “I couldn’t imagine it any better.”

Three different counties and six different AOH divisions were represented, while the Nassau County Ladies were also out in full force.

After the parade Division 8 sponsored an after party at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall where Mayor Ralph Suozzi presented awards to the Grand Marshal and Aides.

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A Hibernian since 1997, John was a three time Division 8 President in Glen Cove and also served as County Recording Secretary before his term as President. For the past year and a half, John was named Publicity Chair for New York State.

We wish John good luck in his election.

Jim has been a member of the AOH for 57 years and this honor is very well deserved.On the night he received his Life Member Medallion, a citation from Congressman Peter King, another citation from Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, a Life Member sash from Division 8 and also a various gifts from both the men’s and ladies’ divisions of Glen Cove.

Division 8 also honored their Division Life Members Ed Doohan, Tom Lilly, and Martin Mannion.

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“He was a dedicated member of the order,” said fellow National Life Member Michael O’Rourke. “He was very active with the Feis, and helped build the stages. He was a worker.”

John joined Division 5 in Far Rockaway back in 1957 and later transferred to Division 3 in the Five Towns. Over the years he held many positions in the Order, including serving as Assistant National Freedom for All Ireland Chair back in the late in 1970s. He also held a few state appointed positions.

In 2002, John was awarded with National Lifetime Membership for his service to the Order and continued to be active with the division and county up until his accident.

He is survived by his nephew former Nassau County President and State Director Ed Friel, three daughters and four grandchildren.

John will be waked 7-9 pm on Tuesday and  2-4 pm and 7-9 pm and Wednesday this week at Fullerton’s Funeral Home on Merrick Road. Baldwin, NY. With the Mass of Christian Burial taking place on 9:45 am on Thursday at St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin.

All officers that up for re-election maintained their offices, including President Shamus Boyle, VP Brendan Moore, Secretary Tom McNabb, and Treasurer Jim McKay. Incumbent directors Keith Carney, Christopher Norris, and Danny O’Connell join newcomers Jere Cole, Mike O’Connor, and Robert Mott to round out the executive board.

The convention also welcomed a number of special guests addressing the assembly Martin McGuiness, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, will address the joint session at the convention; Siobhan Dennehey our John F. Kennedy recipient; Jimbo Crossan, AOH National President Board of Erin; Victor Boyle, AOH National President in Canada; Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Collins; Niall Burgess, Irish Consul General of Ireland in New York and Martin Ruane, Irish Counsel General in Chicago.

The 2012 convention will take place at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY, while the delegation awarded the 2014 affair to the city of St. Louis.

Picture to the right: Nassau County President Mike Byrne presents a Nassau AOH shirt to National VP Brendan Moore.