This week in a look ahead to the coming St Patrick’s day festival I wanted to share this piece which celebrates the hard work and personal integrity of one of our own. I’ve spoken about emigration to America before from the village. Todays piece featuring Bill Lannen Doherty and his wife Teresa gives an insight into the benefits of emigration. This this year Bill will be honoured in his local St Patrick’s Day Parade (Glen Cove) where he helped found the first parade 30 years ago and this year he has been chosen as Grand Marshal.
William (Bill) Doherty was born May 1, 1950
in the Russianside, Cheekpoint, Co. Waterford to Andrew, fisherman/seaman
and Nancy Doherty. He was raised in a small cottage with his 4 older sisters
Elizabeth, Agnes, Brigid, and Ann. As a youngster he did what all the young men did, worked the local rivers fishing in the salmon and herring boats that
plied their fishing trade in all the small fishing villages on the estuary.
Bill at the tender age of 17 met his future wife, Teresa while working the
ferryboat at Little Island, Waterford. After years of courting, when it wasn’t
unusual for Bill to walk 5 miles to meet Teresa at the neighboring village of
Ballygunner. They were married on March 18, 1972 at St John’s Church, Parnell
Street, Waterford City.
in the Russianside, Cheekpoint, Co. Waterford to Andrew, fisherman/seaman
and Nancy Doherty. He was raised in a small cottage with his 4 older sisters
Elizabeth, Agnes, Brigid, and Ann. As a youngster he did what all the young men did, worked the local rivers fishing in the salmon and herring boats that
plied their fishing trade in all the small fishing villages on the estuary.
Bill at the tender age of 17 met his future wife, Teresa while working the
ferryboat at Little Island, Waterford. After years of courting, when it wasn’t
unusual for Bill to walk 5 miles to meet Teresa at the neighboring village of
Ballygunner. They were married on March 18, 1972 at St John’s Church, Parnell
Street, Waterford City.
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| Wedding day 1972 |
After working the
summer of 1972 in Dingle Co. Kerry, Bill and his new bride made the life
altering decision in October 1972 to emigrate at 22 years of age to Long Island, New York. Bill and Teresa was sponsored by his sister Brigid and lived
initially in Lindenhurst with the Winters Family, before moving to Saint James,
where his son Ryan was born in 1974 then settling in Glen Cove in 1977 to be
closer to his employment at Ever-Ready Sanitation located near City
Stadium. It was around that time Bill
became a Parishioner of St Patrick’s, Glen Cove and met other Ancient Order of Hibernian members such as
Mike Moran and was initiated into Division 8. Soon after, in 1979, his daughter
Tara Ann was born and he was employed by Daniello and Son in Locust Valley and
lived in Stephen Oval, Glen Mills Apartments in Glen Cove. In 1983, Andrew John
was born and for the next decade he raised his growing family in Glen Cove,
often sending the kids to Ireland for the summers so that he could work hard, sometimes 3 jobs 7 days a week.
summer of 1972 in Dingle Co. Kerry, Bill and his new bride made the life
altering decision in October 1972 to emigrate at 22 years of age to Long Island, New York. Bill and Teresa was sponsored by his sister Brigid and lived
initially in Lindenhurst with the Winters Family, before moving to Saint James,
where his son Ryan was born in 1974 then settling in Glen Cove in 1977 to be
closer to his employment at Ever-Ready Sanitation located near City
Stadium. It was around that time Bill
became a Parishioner of St Patrick’s, Glen Cove and met other Ancient Order of Hibernian members such as
Mike Moran and was initiated into Division 8. Soon after, in 1979, his daughter
Tara Ann was born and he was employed by Daniello and Son in Locust Valley and
lived in Stephen Oval, Glen Mills Apartments in Glen Cove. In 1983, Andrew John
was born and for the next decade he raised his growing family in Glen Cove,
often sending the kids to Ireland for the summers so that he could work hard, sometimes 3 jobs 7 days a week.
In 1989, Bill along with other AOH Members formed a small committee to start a St Patrick’s Day Parade in Glen Cove. This parade is now celebrating its 30th Anniversary and serves as the only Hibernian Sponsored Parade in Nassau County, growing over the years to become premier celebration of Irish Heritage and Culture on the North Shore. In 1990, Bill and his family, realizing the American Dream bought their own home and moved to Bayville.
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| Bill, Teresa and the family |
After many years of working and living in
on the North Shore, Bill was always willing to lend a hand at AOH events such
as the Project Children Paddleboat Steamer Cruise and the Coney Island Irish Festival. He was always willing to open his home up on holidays or taking a
phone call from a young Irish emigrant looking for work at Piping Rock Club.
Bill served as AOH Division 8 President from 1990 -1992.
on the North Shore, Bill was always willing to lend a hand at AOH events such
as the Project Children Paddleboat Steamer Cruise and the Coney Island Irish Festival. He was always willing to open his home up on holidays or taking a
phone call from a young Irish emigrant looking for work at Piping Rock Club.
Bill served as AOH Division 8 President from 1990 -1992.
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| Happy times at the Saratoga |
In February 2005, Bill and
Teresa made the decision to return “home” to run the world famous Saratoga Bar
on the scenic strand of Woodstown Co. Waterford made famous from its visit by
the Kennedy Family in the 1960’s. Bill
the Publican worked hard at building up the bar’s local customer base and tourist trade, and was a natural behind the bar. He enjoyed his 11 years managing the bar
alongside his sidekick Teresa. He treated everyone entering
his premises with warm courtesy and respect.
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| Bill and his sisters lr Bridgid (RIP), Betty, Ann and Agnes |
In 2016, after the passing of some family
members, an ever-growing grandchildren count and a major flood that nearly
destroyed the pub (but that they rebuilt better than ever), Bill and Teresa made the choice to return once more to the Gold Coast to semi-retire and enjoy the
fruits of their labor. Life has now come full circle, Bill works part-time with his nephews at
Winter Bros Waste Systems, one of the largest private sanitation companies on
Long Island.
This year Bill is truly honored to be chosen for
Grand Marshal of the 2018 Glen Cove St Patrick’s Day Parade. It is a celebration of what
an immigrant with hard work ethic and love for both Ireland and America can
accomplish over a life well lived. It is a great tribute and so fitting that such a
milestone anniversary of 30 years recognizes one of its founding members on the
same day as Bill and Teresa’s 46th Wedding Anniversary. His 3 children and
7 grandchildren will be marching with pride.
Grand Marshal of the 2018 Glen Cove St Patrick’s Day Parade. It is a celebration of what
an immigrant with hard work ethic and love for both Ireland and America can
accomplish over a life well lived. It is a great tribute and so fitting that such a
milestone anniversary of 30 years recognizes one of its founding members on the
same day as Bill and Teresa’s 46th Wedding Anniversary. His 3 children and
7 grandchildren will be marching with pride.
The march takes place on Sunday the 18th from 1-3pm and the post parade party takes place from 2-6pm. Their family, relations and friends here in Cheekpoint, Ballygunner, Passage East and Woodstown and throughout Waterford will be also marching at least in spirit, wishing Bill and Teresa many future St Patrick Day festivities together.
Many thanks to my cousin Ryan for helping me to put this together and sourcing the photos.
Post script: Some photos of the actual event… Looks fabulous
Many thanks to my cousin Ryan for helping me to put this together and sourcing the photos.
Post script: Some photos of the actual event… Looks fabulous
My book on growing up in a fishing village is now published.
