Mary McAleese, President of Ireland,
and Dr. Martin McAleese
visited Portland to mark the 70th Anniversary of the All-Ireland
Cultural Society of Oregon and to dedicate the Irish Famine
Memorial Cross at Mt. Calvary Cemetary
on Saturday, December 13, 2008.
"Today we celebrate our Portland Irish
family... They brought little with them by way of personal
possessions but their hearts and heads carried an ancient
and rich heritage steeped in music, dance, history, poetry,
spirituality, friendship and a capacity for finding joy even
in the teeth of adversity. They were community builders par
excellence and all these easily carried gifts they brought
with them...leaving here an imprint of Ireland that is still
strong today. "
- Mary McAleese |