Thursday 16 April 2015

NYC's Irish immigrant girls: Exhibition opens in Cavan

Opening this evening (7pm) at Cavan County Museum is Bringing the Girls Home, a touring exhibition from The Irish Mission at Watson House in New York City.

The exhibition tells the story of a home for Irish immigrant girls in Lower Manhattan between 1883 and 1954. The Mission was set up in response to the huge flood of young Irish women arriving in New York, and it provided information, temporary accommodation, employment referrals, counselling and support for those just off the ship from Ireland.

The Mission's ledgers, which record the names and other details of the girls who were helped by this organisation, have been online for just over a year. You can find more information about these free to access records in my blogpost 'Records of Irish immigrant women in NYC'.

The exhibition will run until 19 June at the Museum on Virginia Road, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am–5pm. Telephone: 353 49 8544070.