by Geoff Cobb
On April 24th Ireland will mark the hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising that led to Irish independence. Irish patriots seized the General Post Office in the heart of Dublin and proclaimed the Irish Republic. The first man to sign that proclamation, Thomas Clarke, lived for many years right here in Greenpoint at 175 Russell Street with his wife Kathleen Clarke who was also a heroic Irish revolutionary in her own right. So let’s investigate…
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Geoffrey, Thanks for your great work on Greenpoint’s history. Clarke deserves a plaque in Greenpont to signify his leadership of the Irish Rising. He is rightly known as the Father of Ireland’s Independence which came about as a direct result of his work for Irish freedom — starting here in Greenpoint. In recognition of his leadership he is the first signatory of Ireland’s Proclamation of Independence. Also your story speaks to the significant presence of the Irish in Greenpoint at the turn of the twentieth century. Look forward to learning more about that as your work continues.