Cole Kirst: Bagpipes, stoplights and the community. In the united states Irish culture is strong. St. Patrick’s day is one of the many traditions the country celebrates. What most don’t know is that St. Patrick wasn’t Irish. Patrick wasn’t even his real name. Maewyn Succat was from Britain. He converted to Christianity and moved to Ireland where he practiced religion establishing churches and chapels. He died on march 17th but his impact was so vast, people who immigrated to the united states wear green and celebrate on the day every year. Much of the Irish culture in Syracuse is due to the potato famine in 1845 which sent many Irish immigrants to cities in the united states.
Robert Searing: “Yeah the Irish were here before it was even Syracuse. some of the earliest settlers that came to around Onondaga valley which used to be called salt point, they came here to boil salt brine. they started from little brass kettles and they eventually built an industry that dominated the national market. so salt blocks everywhere.”
Kirst: “Irish culture is present today on Tipp hill with a traffic light green over the red. St. Patrick’s church. And Colemans who has one immigrant to thank for continuing to serve a popular vegetable.”
Searing: “You know these are poor people working in the salt industry just some small potatoes that said hey were going to throw it in the boiling water, and then this becomes the food ambassador the staple of an entire region. Much beloved if you haven’t had them you need to have them they’re fantastic they go with everything. So it’s this tangible reminder of that working class, immigrant community, that built the Erie canal, built the Syracuse salt industry, and without the Erie canal, without Syracuse salt, there is no Syracuse.”
Kirst: “The Irish tradition of playing the bagpipes on Wednesday nights in Tipp hill is meant to be heard by all.”
Steve McLaughlin: “You know whether you like it or not sometimes you need to hear it you know.”
Kirst: “Steve McLaughlin says some of his greatest friends he’s made has been through playing the pipes. Including a former resident of Belfast, Ireland.”
Steve Delaney: “I always joke about it in here. When I come in ah bagpipes. And when they stop I’m like that’s the best sound they ever make when they’re not being played.”
Kirst: “Irish culture in Syracuse is strong and has St. Patrick to thank for that. In Syracuse, Cole Kirst… N-C-C News.”
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Bagpipes, stoplights and the community. Irish culture is strong in the United States. St. Patrick’s Day is one of the many traditions the country celebrates. What most don’t know is that St. Patrick wasn’t Irish. Patrick wasn’t even his real name.
Maewyn Succat was from Britain. He converted to Christianity and moved to Ireland where he practiced religion, establishing churches and chapels. He died on March 17 but his impact was so vast, people who immigrated to the united states wear green and celebrate on the day every year. Much of the Irish culture in Syracuse is due to the potato famine in 1845 which sent many Irish immigrants to cities in the united states.
Onondaga Historical Association Curator of History Robert Searing said much of the earliest settlers came to Onondaga Valley, which used to be called Salt Point, to work.
“They came here to boil salt brine,” Searing said. “They started from little brass kettles and they eventually built an industry that dominated the national market. ”
Irish culture is present today on Tipp Hill with a traffic light color green over red, St. Patrick’s church, and Colemans pub who has one immigrant to thank for continuing to serve a popular vegetable.
“You know these are poor people working in the salt industry just some small potatoes that said hey were going to throw it in the boiling water, and then this becomes the food ambassador the staple of an entire region,” Searing said. “It’s this tangible reminder of that working class, immigrant community, that built the Erie canal, built the Syracuse salt industry, and without the Erie canal, without Syracuse salt, there is no Syracuse.”
The Irish tradition of playing the bagpipes on Wednesday nights in Tipp hill is meant to be heard by all. Syracuse resident and fireman Steve McLaughlin, believes everyone should hear the bagpipes.
“You know whether you like it or not sometimes you need to hear it you know,” McLaughlin said.
Steve McLaughlin says some of his greatest friends he’s made has been through playing the pipes. Including a former resident of Belfast, Ireland.
“I always joke about it in here,” Steven Delaney said. “When I come in ah bagpipes. And when they stop I’m like that’s the best sound they ever make when they’re not being played.”
Irish culture in Syracuse is strong and has St. Patrick to thank for that.
