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History
of the Gaelic League in Detroit
The
Detroit Branch of the Gaelic League, the Terence MacSwiney Branch, was
formed December 9, 1920. It was modeled after the Gaelic League of
Ireland, founded by Douglas Hyde in 1893. The Gaelic League of Detroit
maintains the aims and objectives
of its parent group. The non-sectarian organization's goal is to preserve
and promote the Irish culture and restore Ireland as a nation.
World
War I had just ended and Ireland
was fighting desperately for its independence. In an area of Detroit settled mostly by Irish immigrants, called
Old Corktown, people met to discuss the latest developments in Ireland.
The
first formal meeting on December 9, 1920 drew a crowd of fifty concerned
Irishmen. That evening in the McAllister Hall at Sixth Street and Michigan Avenue, the
Terence MacSwiney Branch of the Gaelic League was formed. The club was
named after the Lord Mayor of Cork,
Terence MacSwiney, who had died October 25th in a British prison while on
hunger strike for 74 days.
The
name, "Conradh na Gaeilge - Tir Is Teanga" in Irish means
"League of the Gaels - Country and Tongue".
The
Gaelic League published a book showing the history of the Gaelic League
in Detroit
from 1920 – 2000. It was produced in conjunction with Detroit’s 300th anniversary
which was celebrated in 2000. This memorable pictorial publication is
available at the Gaelic League. more…
Cover artwork courtesy of Kevi Chapman, resident graphic designer,
CAT Graphics catgeocat@comcast.net or 313-821-3243
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