Where in the ADK? Irishtown
A piece of Irish heritage in the Adirondacks.
This week's "Where in the ADK?" comes from the Town of Minerva, or Irishtown, to be exact. 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.
It only seems appropriate that during the week before St. Patrick's Day, we feature a little piece of Irish heritage in the ADK.
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 so the area became known as Irishtown.
In 1848, Irishtown residents erected St. Mary's Church surrounded by a cemetery. The faithful followed when a larger Catholic church was built in nearby Olmsteadville, yet St. Mary's still survives. Every May, parishioners hold a Memorial Mass and an occasional baptism or wedding.
In 1847, the Town Board authorized $14 to build a school in Irishtown made from logs. The school year lasted for four months back then, perhaps in anticipation of inclement winter weather or to accommodate the farming schedule.
In 1860, a school was built to replace the 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.
For more information on Irishtown, visit the Town of Minerva website.
Visit places near Irishtown and Minerva.
Find St. Mary’s Church in Irishtown, near Minerva, NY.
Show your love for the Adirondacks with our apparel and gifts.
Events in the area.
The 2024 Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stops in the Adirondacks along Lake Champlain on Tuesday, November 26.
Celebrate the season in Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain.
Enjoy a mysterious take on the traditional “Night Before Christmas” featuring Sherlock Holmes at Tannery Pond Center.
Christmas in Warrensburgh has been a much cherished Adirondack event for over three decades.
Catch the holiday spirit at this performance of one of the most beloved and classic ballets in Plattsburgh in December.
It’s a very merry Christmas in Schroon Lake in the Adirondacks in December.
Don’t miss Warren Miller’s 75th wintersports masterpiece in North Creek near Gore Mountain.