Celtic Cross - Worcester, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 15.781 W 071° 48.102
19T E 268918 N 4682780
The Celtic Cross is on Front Street, behind and restricted by a fence, on the the north side of the Worcester City Hall Building.
Waymark Code: WMCXTJ
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 10/24/2011
Views: 3
The Celtic Cross is a large highly decorated sculpture which is a gift from the Irish community and commemorates the 150th anniversary of the first Irish settlement of Worcester, in 1826. Bas relief panels depicting scenes from Ireland and Irish symbols are carved into the cross. The 15' high Celtic Cross stands on a 54" by 46" base. It was created by Joseph Calgagni and fabricated at the Barre Guild and dedicated on September 18, 1977.
In the center of the upper part of the cross are shamrocks surrounded by four crests representing the four provinces of Ireland: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connaught. On the vertical front are: the Round Tower of Ardmore in County Waterford and a wolfhound; St. Bridget's Cross and shamrocks; a sailing ship; a Claddagh Ring; a scene of men digging Blackstone canal; an endless knot; a Celtic cross over American and Irish flags; an eagle standing on arrows and an olive branch. On the side to the left of the front are the names of the counties along a ribbon and a map of Ireland.
(From the SIRIS website - not visible from the street) On the upper back of the cross, the upper part is the same as the front. The vertical part has panels depicting: thatched roof cottages, three small shields, Christ's Church on Temple Street, a motif of tools and a section of railroad track. On the side to the right of the front are county names and an 1829 map of Worcester noting the Canal Basio, Scalpintown, the Meadows, Dungarvan Hill, and Christ's Church.
The front of the base is inscribed:
COMMEMORATING THE 150TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST
PERMANENT SETTLEMENT OF
THE IRISH COMMUNITY
IN WORCESTER
1826 - 1976
The same inscription in Gaelic
(From the SIRIS website - not visible from the street)
On back of cross :
WORCESTER BECAME A
CITY THROUGH THE
EFFORTS OF PEOPLE
FROM ALL PARTS
OF THE WORLD.
EMIGRANTS FROM
IRELAND HELPED BEGIN
THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THEY FIRST ARRIVED
IN 1718 AND ASSURED
THE TOWN'S SURVIVAL
AS A SETTLEMENT.
IN 1826 THE COMING
OF IRISH CANAL-BUILDERS
BEGAN WORCESTER'S
FIRST ETHNIC COMMUNITY.
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THESE
PIONEER IRISH AND ALL
WORCESTER RESIDENTS
OF IRISH DESCENT.
(On back of base:)
WORCESTER IRISH MEMORIAL COMMITTEE