GALWAY ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
The Galway Men’s Social & Benevolent Association was founded in 1873 as a direct result of the visit to the United States of the great Dominican preacher Father Thomas Burke of Galway City. Tom Burke came to America in Feb. 1872 in answer to the compelling pleas of America’s Irish, led by his fellow Galway man, Patrick Ford who was the first President of the Galway M
en’s Association. The morale and spirits of the Irish in New York and elsewhere were at a low point as a result of the virulent anti-Irish propaganda and lies spawned by British historian James Froude. Tom met several times with a loosely organized group of active Galway –born New Yorkers. He urged the group to organize formally, draft a constitution and by-laws, meet regularly and work together for the common good of the Irish in New York. His advice was heeded and shortly before he returned to Ireland in 1873 Father Tom Burke was installed as the Galway Men’s Association first Chaplain and declared the Association’s “founder” at the first general meeting of the new born organization. Tom Burke can be seen on the Galway Men’s Association banner. The Galway Men’s Association continues to be a strong organization. The name has been changed to The Galway Association to include the membership of women. Meetings take place on the 3rd Friday of every month (except for summer break May-Aug.) at the Liederkranz Club, 6 East 87th Street, NYC. Membership is $20 annually and is open to anyone that has a direct connection to Galway.
