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Join us at
Monday, May 25, 2009, 10:30 am,
to remember and honor those Irish who came before us to the Seattle area
over the past 150 years. |
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Some of the Headstones at St. Patrick Cemetery |
CUMMINGS
Born Co. Clare DWYER
Born Tiparri (sic) Ireland
The Christian Brothers
DONLEY
Born Limerick Ireland
EDWARD MULLEN
Born Co. Galway
JOHN O'BRIEN
Born Co. Claire (sic)
MARY MULLEN
Born Co. Galway
O'CONNELL
Richard born Limerick,
Sara born Galway
MARGARET MULLEN
Born Co. Galway
HAYES
Born Co. Limerick |
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MEMORIAL DAY MASS
An open-air Mass, with hymns in the Irish language accompanied by traditional Irish musicians from Galway, will be celebrated at the Seattle area's Irish pioneer cemetery, St. Patrick Cemetery in Kent, at 10:30 am on Memorial Day, this Monday, May 25. The cemetery is located one mile east of Exit 152 off I-5, just east of Sea-Tac Airport at the corner of Orillia Road and 204th St. This Mass will serve to honor in a special way the Irish history of the graveyard as well as all who are buried there and all the Irish buried in cemeteries around Seattle.
If possible, bring some folding chairs or lawn chairs for seating.
 St. Patrick Cemetery was created when the O'Connell family in 1880 set aside 4½ acres on their farm south of Seattle to be a cemetery for the mainly Irish Catholic families in the area. They named it for St. Patrick, and in 1902, formally transferred title to the cemetery to the Diocese of Nisqually (now the Archdiocese of Seattle) for the sum of $1. Over the years, the cemetery fell into disrepair due to lack of volunteers and vandalism. Since the 1970s, all records, services and maintenance for St. Patrick have been provided by Gethsemane Cemetery in Federal Way.
The farm where St. Patrick Cemetery was started was owned by the O'Connell Family, shown here around 1904 with Richard and Sarah in the middle, children Richard and Catherine at rear, and Monica in front. Richard O'Connell was born in Co. Limerick in 1839 and Sarah (Mullen) was born in Co. Galway in 1870. After his first wife died, Richard married Sarah in 1887 and they had three children, Catherine (b. 1888), Richard (b. 1890), and Monica (b. 1897). Richard died in 1935 and Sarah died in 1952. Today, their grandson, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren still live on the original O'Connell family farm, located just down the hill from St. Patrick.
The first burials at St. Patrick
MORGAN O'BRIEN / Born in Tipperary Co. Ireland / Died Dec. 18, 1880 / Aged 65 yrs. / Also His Wife / Catherine, / Born in Co. Claire (sic), Ireland / Died Dec. 3, 1880 / Aged 56 yrs. |
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ARE YOU A 2009 IRISH HERITAGE CLUB MEMBER? Please show support for Irish activities in the Seattle area by making sure your membership is current. Membership is open to anyone interested in "Things Irish". Dues are $20 (single membership) or $30 (family membership), and you can pay by cash, check, or Secure Credit Card. For more information, email Membership@irishclub.org or visit www.irishclub.org. |
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2009 Members remain in good standing until March 31, 2010 |
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