The Celtic Rebels & Heroes of the American Revolution

Those who conceived this great experiment in self government were for the most part loyal subjects of the British who primarily wanted more say in local affairs for many various reasons. Among them were a multitude of patriots of Irish birth or extraction. A lot more were Celts of every kind including primarily Scots-Irish and Scots by either ancestry or birth.

Our purpose with this feature is to single out a few of the most prominent of these brave and inspired souls and to raise a general awareness of the grand and far reaching

OPEN for now, probably 1776 one hour at least

roles that the Irish and our Celtic kin played in helping to create the most amazing and enduring Republic that has existed so far in the history of man.

It seems to be one of those fascinating paradoxes of life that the more that we learn on a subject; the more aware we become of how little we know. That is what will happen now if you read on.

The Irish were an integral part of the great team and eclectic bunch of factions, individuals, groups and allied countries that under George Washington's inspired leadership helped forge the first Democratic Republic that is still one of the freest and most promising nations on our planet

John Barry was an American Colonist and Sea Captain who traced his roots to County Wexford.

With the blessings and hopes of his own parents, he had fled Ireland and goneto see under the guidanceof his uncleabout 1755 at the ageof 10

Because of the upheavals and land policies in Ireland, his family had been driven from their ancestral homeby the British His parents and four siblings were impoverished and existing as poor tenant farmers under theDraconian penal and land laws of thetime which discriminated against Catholics

After a few yearsat serving on his uncles' ships, Barry arrived in Philadelphia as a young teenager His ambitious natureand abilities helped him quickly rise from seaman to mate to Captain at theage of 21 In 1776, he was given his first command, a schooner and a crew of five, making several voyages a year to Barbados

A captain?s pay meant moremoney could be sent home It also allowed him to marry a young Irish girl, Mary Cleary, and move into a small house near the Philadelphia waterfront By thestart of the American War of Independence,