Stones From Eire In Cultural Garden

Two smooth greyish stones from the garden of Daniel O'Connell, the "great emancipator" of Ireland, today have an appropriate and honored place in the Irish Cultural Garden of Rockefeller Park.

The stones were presented to Mrs. Mary K. Duffy, president of the Irish Cultural Garden League, by N. R. Howard, editor of The News, as part of the annual observance of the birth 208 years ago of Commodore John Barry. Mrs. Duffy, a native of Roscommon County, Ireland, also added a stone of her own. It was recently brought from Roscommon by Miss Anne McManus of 2114 Tate Ave., who visited there.

Presents Proof of Validity

Along with the stones, Howard presented a note from Miss Fannie O'Connell, great-granddaughter of O'Connell, attesting the validity of the stones.

In Ireland two years ago, Howard visited the O'Connell residence, Derrynane, in County Kerry, and brought the stones from the Kenmare Bay beach there and from the garden of the home.

O'Connell's name is familiar to all Irishmen. His battles in the British Parliament resulted in the Irish being restored to full citizenship rights in the 1840's.

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It is hoped that stones representing each of Ireland's 32 counties will be brought here. The stones will either be placed around the garden's juniper tree or made into a cairn which is a pile of stones. In Ireland cairns are common in fields and on little hills, and are preserved for their link with the ancient past.

From September 14, 1953 article, "Stones from Eire" (Plain Dealer Morgue)