February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Harry Keaney
A campaign to develop a new American-Irish museum, research center and library in New York was launched on Sunday on the WFUV-FM radio program “Ceol na nGael”
A committee has already been formed to promote the museum idea. On “Ceol na nGael,” the committee’s temporary chairman, James Ryan, said the committee is now pursuing its campaign “one slow step at a time.”
According to a statement issued by Ryan, the committee, at this stage, asks “that everyone interested in American history, not only the American Irish populace, send cards and letters simply indicating that they support the basic idea of such a museum and scholarly research center in New York City.”
All correspondence should be sent to the Committee for the American Irish Museum, P.O. Box 556, Yonkers, NY 10704-0556.
The committee has promised that as soon as it receives sufficient public support, it will begin this fall to release more details on the planned museum and research center.
Never miss an issue of The Irish Echo
Subscribe to one of our great value packages.
“This museum,” Ryan said, “will contain a scholarly research center where scholars and students might find original and secondary materials on the culture and history of the American Irish. We ask for support from all those who appreciate American history because the history of the American Irish dating back before 1775 is completely intertwined with, and overlaps, the broader American history panorama.”
Ryan added that the proposed museum, library and research center, would be a boon for students in the metropolitan area and across the nation. He also said it should become a “major tourist attraction in the greater metropolitan area.”
Ryan has been active on behalf of the American Irish for a number of years, starting as the curator, producer and host of the “American Irish Perspective” radio show. He later founded the American Irish Heritage Association. He has also lectured widely on Irish and American Irish history.