NORTHAMPTON — The St. Patrick’s Day season is a joyful and festive time for many in Northampton, where those with and without Irish heritage come together in celebration of all things Irish.
But on Friday morning, about two dozen people gathered in the cold winds to remember a darker period of the city’s history, which saw two Irish men executed in what can only be described as a miscarriage of justice.
“They came here as strangers,” retired Judge W. Michael Ryan said. “They were not welcomed.”
In 1805, Dominic Daley and James Halligan were two Irish Catholic immigrants traveling from Boston to New York when they were arrested and charged with the murder of Marcus Lyon, a young farmer. Convicted on circumstantial evidence, Daley and Halligan were sentenced to hang.
The first Roman Catholic Mass in Northampton history was celebrated in their jail cell by Father Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus, who had to stay at the jail for a time before lodging was offered to him, so strong was the anti-Catholic sentiment in the area. The priest also gave a sermon prior to the execution, to the crowd of 15,000 people who showed up to bear witness of the deaths of the Irishmen.
Prior to being executed, Daley delivered a statement asserting he and Halligan’s innocence. Years later, it was reported that another person had confessed to the crime.
In 1984, Gov. Michael Dukakis issued a proclamation exonerating the men.
At their memorial stone near Hospital Hill, Ryan said that Daley and Halligan were misjudged because of their religion, class and nationality, and that this was an important message to remember.
“All of our ancestors went through the same thing,” he said.
He also said that this should be a reminder for people to welcome immigrants.
The crowd that came to honor the dead men also included Paul Hogan, president of the Holyoke chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; Hampshire County District Attorney David Sullivan, City Council President Ryan O’Donnell, and the marshal in this year’s delegation for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade, William “Duke” O’Riordan.
At the event, Ryan called for a moment of silence for the late Rep. Peter Kocot, the district’s longtime representative who lost a battle with cancer last month.
Hogan presented O’Riordan with a shillelagh at the ceremony, in honor of his contributions to keeping the Irish culture and spirit alive in Northampton. He also said that it was good to see young people in attendance.
“Somebody has to keep this alive,” he said.
Four children and O’Riordan laid a wreath on the memorial stone for the men. “The Soldier’s Song,” was then sung in both Gaelic and English.
Speaking after the ceremony, Sullivan said that it was important to be vigilant and to make sure that prejudice doesn’t seep into court proceedings, and to make sure people feel welcomed in the community.
“Daley and Halligan weren’t so fortunate,” he said.
O’Donnell said that the story of Daley and Halligan has a lot of resonance today for immigrants and for those who are discriminated against and persecuted.
“This is about remembering an injustice,” O’Donnell said.
He also said that it is a reminder of the importance of preserving democratic institutions.
Both Sullivan and O’Donnell said that they learned about Daley and Halligan from O’Riordan. O’Donnell said that the crowd at commemorations used to smaller, and that it has grown because of O’Riordan’s advocacy.
“It’s actually really nice he’s grand marshall,” said O’Donnell. “He really deserves it.”
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com
Editor’s Note: This story was changed on March 20, 2018, to correct a typographical error.