Miners remembered as Kilkenny plays its part

The dream of Professor Jim Walsh, University of Colorado, Denver, has now become a reality with the recent unveiling of the Irish Miners Memorial in Leadville USA.

Created by Irish sculptor Terry Brennan it marks the strong links between the Colorado town and the Irish mining community. The memorial features a life-sized bronze sculpture of a miner, bent on one knee holding a pick and facing Ireland to represent labourers and children buried in what’s known as the Pauper Section of Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery.

Records show that 1,339 Irish and other immigrants are buried in unmarked, sunken graves in the ‘Pauper or Catholic Free’ section of the Evergreen cemetery, Leadville. Based on surnames and cross-checking with church records, it is estimated that 70 to 80% are Irish.

The Leadville Irish were largely from areas where hunger and persecution were rampant. The vast majority of these Irish immigrants came from areas in Western and Southern Ireland, the most devastated areas during the famine.

A number of dignitaries attended the unveiling including Colorado State Senator Michael Bennett, Irish Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne-Nelson.

Castlecomer was represented by Donie O’Neill, Firoda, who attended as a guest of Professor Jim Walsh who was most gracious for his work and facilitation and promotion of the project at events both in the Castlecomer Library and also in Kilkenny City.