Irishtown: A piece of Irish Heritage in the Adirondacks.
St. Mary’s Church in Irishtown, part of Minerva.
It only seems appropriate to feature a little piece of Irish heritage in the ADK during the week before St. Patrick's Day.
The Adirondack borough known as Irishtown is part of the Town of Minerva, located in the southwestern corner of Essex County in the Adirondack Park (roughly 90 miles north of Albany), Minerva was founded in the early 1800s.
The origins of Irishtown in the Adirondacks.
In 1823, a group of Irish families—the O'Neils, Donnellys, the Dougherty family, and Kellys—purchased the northeastern part of the Minerva, and the area became known as Irishtown.
In 1848, the residents of Irishtown constructed St. Mary's Church, which was accompanied by a surrounding cemetery. Although the locals built a larger Catholic church in nearby Olmstedville, St. Mary's Church still stands today, reflecting the enduring legacy of the early Irish settlers.
Parishioners hold a Memorial Mass and an occasional baptism or wedding every May.
Irishtown: Part of the American Industrial Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution had a major impact on the hamlet. Daniel Lynch, one of Irishtown’s settlers, owned and operated a shingle mill near Minerva Creek's head. The settlers constructed two dams to support this operation: one at the mill and another, known as the Wesley Dam, about a mile upstream.
Lumber milling was a crucial industry in Irishtown.
The latter was designed to hold water until logs were ready to be driven downstream. Additionally, John Dougherty owned a lumber mill at a small brook north of the Eastman place.
In 1847, the Town Board authorized $14 to build a school in Irishtown made from logs. The school year lasted four months, perhaps in anticipation of inclement winter weather or to accommodate the farming schedule.
In 1860, Irishtown residents built a school to replace the original log school. It was situated just east of St. Mary's Church and its cemetery. The school has been built and rebuilt numerous times and still stands today.
The population of Irishtown.
The main occupations in Irishtown were farming and lumbering. In 1864, the iron mines were open. At one time there was a marble quarry and a headstone from that quarry is in the Irishtown cemetery today.
Only a few people live in Irishtown year round today. However, many summer or vacation homes exist in this beautiful area of the Adirondacks.
For more information on Irishtown, visit the Town of Minerva website.
Find places to eat, shop, stay and experience near Irishtown and Minerva.
Show your love for the Adirondacks with our apparel and gifts.
Events in the Gore Mountain and Minerva area.
Indian Lake Theater presents “Mufasa: The Lion King” this weekend.
Experience the sweetest time of the year over three weekends in Thurman, NY.
The annual Indian Lake Snowarriors Irish Road Bowling in Indian Lake is happening on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Visit Adirondack Great Camp Santanoni in winter on March 15-16, 2025.
Use your lucky charms to capture a leprechaun to win treasure.
Chestertown, NY, holds it’s 13th St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 15, 2025.
Indian Lake Theater presents Bob Dylan bio-pic “A Complete Unknown” starring Timothée Chalamet.
Learn essential shelter-building and wilderness survival skills at the Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb, NY.
Don’t miss over 200 miles of garage sales, tag sales and hidden treasures in the Central Adirondacks on Memorial Day Weekend.
