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Bill and Frank Watson lead the procession.

On the third anniversary of the burial of the victims of Duffy’s Cut, a crowd of local Irish and Irish-Americans showed that no one is about to forget the 57 Irish railroad workers who died in 1832 along Mile 59 of the Pennsylvania-Columbia Railroad in Malvern.

After a week of bad weather, the sun shone brightly on the procession of well-wishers last Sunday, as they made their way from the main building of the West Laurel Hill Cemetery to a tall monument—a stone Celtic cross engraved with elegant knotwork. They were led by brothers Bill and Frank Watson in full piping regalia.

It was a time for a brief period of reflection. Singer Charlie Zahm set the tone with a moving rendition of the classic “Four Green Fields.” Prayers were read by Frank Watson, a Lutheran minister, while others spoke words of remembrance.

Frank McDonnell, president of the Donegal Association of Philadelphia, paid tribute to the Watson brothers who, with their colleagues and volunteers, have led the effort to recover the remains from a mass grave along the tracks—and to help solve the mystery of how they came to die. Many of these lost souls succumbed to cholera, certainly, but at least some of them murdered.

“You talk about history, and you talk about recorded events,” said McDonnell. “Those events will become part of our history. They remain part of our heritage.”

In standing alongside the monument, McDonnell added, “we stand on the edge of history. And we would not be here if it were not for these two brothers.”

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Best costume, best location, best Irish spirit!

When you’re Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade veterans as we are, you get wise to the best places to watch the parade, grab a bite to eat, take a potty break, and rest up (or party) afterwards. We list the post-parties on our calendar, so we thought we’d share some other insider info so you can watch the parade like a pro.  ~ Jeff and Denise

Best Place to Watch the Parade: The reviewing stand or, if it’s cold, inside the CBS3 trailer. Failing that (and you will unless you have a special ticket or are doing color commentary), we like the spot down around 16^th and Arch. The route is narrow there, you can sit on the walls or, better yet, at the tables outside Tir na Nog and watch the parade pass you by. The performing area—where the bands play, the dancers dance, and the AOHers wave at the cameras—is just past 23^rd Street on the Parkway.

Rowdiest place to watch the parade: Around 16th and JFK. What a difference a block makes. This corner presents your best opportunity to run into bare-chested young hooligans, typically well advanced along the path to inebriation. No worries, though. They’re loud and boisterous, but generally harmless. We once witnessed a “Silly String” fight there. Philly is no Hoboken.

Warmest place to watch the parade: Inside one of the pubs along the route—or at home, in front of the TV. The CW-Philly57 network broadcasts it live starting at 1 p.m. An encore airs on St. Patrick’s Day—Tuesday, March 17, on CBS3 from 9 a.m. to Noon.

Best place to warm your hands: Wrap your frigid little fists around a latte or just a plain (but strong) cup o’ joe at the Starbucks at 16th & Arch. We start our parade day early, when it’s usually the coldest time of the day, and we’re in and out of the place once or twice.

Best costume to wear to the parade: Something green, preferably silly and undignified. That will assure that you’ll get your picture taken or wind up on TV. And you’ll gain some measure of immortality. You’re sure to pop up on Facebook or YouTube where you will live for eternity.

Best food along the parade route. You can always grab a dishwater dog or soft pretzel from one of the street vendors, but there are a couple of nice Irish pubs right along the parade route, including Tir Na Nog at 16^th and Arch and Con Murphy’s Pub at 1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Best place to excuse yourself. There are plenty of portable toilets down by the reviewing stand. Or pop into one of the pubs or restaurants along the route (there aren’t all that many), grab a bite, a brew, and a bathroom break.

Best opportunity to spot a monster Irish Wolfhound. We can’t guarantee it, but the overlarge McGuinness and his kilted owner Jim Kilrain often stake out a spot near 17th and the Parkway. (The dog you see in this post is not an Irish Wolfhound. It is Irish Wolfhound kibble.)

Best parking. There are two places: One is the garage at 16th and Arch under the LOVE Park. The other is on 17th Street between the Parkway and Arch Street, near (as luck would have it) Con Murphy’s Pub. There’s VIP parking at Eakins Oval but you need to be a VIP or to have mugged one for their windshield sticker.

Place with the smallest crowd. Where Race blends into Logan Square, just above the Cathedral. Crowds typically thin out here. You can have the sidewalk all to yourself. Many of the groups—especially the dance groups—go through their routines before making the last long trek up to the reviewing stands and the TV cameras. The Mummers have also been known to strut a bit.

Best way to get to the city: The train. There’s a One-Day Independence Pass that costs $12 per person and is good on all SEPTA trains, buses, subways, or trolleys, except for week-day rush hour runs. A $29 pass lets a family of five traveling together hop on any SEPTA vehicle—well, maybe not those cool little track inspection cars—all day. 

“One of the best books to come out of Europe,” said the San Francisco Chronicle about this Sebastian Barry novel set in post World War I Ireland.

What do these books have in common? Nothing, except that they explore various parts of the Irish experience, both in American and in Ireland, in the past and the present. Some of this week’s reads were mentioned several times by our Irish Philadelphia Facebook group members. I’ve read all but three of them. One, Irish Blood, is by a local Irish author.

Click on the book’s title and you’ll be taken to goodreads.com where you can see how others rated the book and where you’ll also find links to buy the book online. If you have other book suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section after the story.

Look for part 3 of our reading series next week.

Fiction
Trinity by Leon Uris
From the author of “Exodus,” “Trinity” is an epic adventure tale of a young Irish Catholic man fighting for Irish freedom and the beautiful (because they always are) Irish Protestant girl who defied her own culture to join him. It was a real favorite of our Facebook readers.

Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn

This is the first of a series of books written by American-born historical novelist Llywelyn that explores various aspects of Irish culture. The Lion of Ireland was, of course, Brian Boru. Other Llywelyn books include Druids, 1916: A Novel of Irish Rebellion; Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish; Finn MacCool, 1921: The Great Novel of the Irish Civil War; 1949: The Novel of the Irish Free State; 1972: A Novel of Ireland’s Unfinished Revolution; 1999: A Novel of the Celtic Tiger and the Search for Peace; and many others.

Foster by Claire Keegan

Set in rural Ireland, this spare little gem of a book tells the story of a little girl who is sent to live with foster parents in the country. While there, she finds affection she has never known before—and learns a secret that changes her life forever.

Irish Blood by Brendan Sean Sullivan

Local author Sullivan tells the tale of an American, Mick McKenna, who lost his wife in a carbomb attack in Belfast on their honeymoon and returns to Ireland to find himself embroiled personally in “the troubles.” In this thriller, the choices he makes can affect the success of the Good Friday agreement.

The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty by Sebastian Barry

Called “the finest book to come out of Europe” the year it was released, playwright Barry’s novel follows the happy-go-lucky Sligo man, Eneas McNulty, through his tumultuous life post World War I, first as a member of the notorious British-led Royal Irish Constabulary, then as fugitive pursued by the IRA who finds redemption on the Isle of Dogs, a sailor’s haven.

Nonfiction
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom by John O’Donohue

Poet, philosopher and scholar O’Donohue provides an inspirational guide through the spiritual landscape of the Irish psyche using stories, teaching, and blessings that provide insights on friendship, love, solitude, and death.

Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster by T. J. English

The notorious Boston criminal James “Whitey” Bulger may be one of the last of the Irish gangsters, but he certainly wasn’t the first. Organized crime expert English brings to life nearly two centuries of Irish gangsters, from the Gangs of New York, to Bulger, who was caught after 16 years on the lam and is now in prison, invicted of racketeering and playing a role in 11 murders.

Green Suede Shoes by Larry Kirwan

Fans of the Celtic rock group Black 47 may not know that founder and lead singer Kirwan is an accomplished writer and playwright whose autobiography takes the reader from his birth in County to Wexford to his years on the New York rock and punk scene. Kirwan has a new book coming out this year.

No News at Throat Lake: In Search of Ireland by Lawrence Donegan

Scottish-born journalist Lawrence Donegan, obviously of Irish descent, longs for the simple life far from the big city and thinks he may find it in Creeslough, a quaint Irish village whose name translates—very loosely—to Throat Lake. He takes a job at the Tirconaill Tribune, a quirky local paper run by two men and a dog. And what can we say? Hilarity ensues. One of my personal favorites.

Are You Somebody? The Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman by Nuala O’Faolain

One of nine children of a Dublin couple, O’Faolain follows in her father’s foosteps and becomes a reporter who then turns her eye on her emotionally starved childhood, her wandering father, and, for a time, finds solace in alcohol just as her father did. It’s a very honest book, a little too name-droppy for my taste, but women born in the ‘50s in particular will find resonance in O’Faolain’s struggles as a woman in what was a largely man’s field at the time.