Michael Duffy, Interview by Hunter House and Darby Molony, 12 April 2018
Date:
2018
Interviewer:
Hunter House;Darby Molony
Interviewee:
Michael Duffy
Description:
Michael Duffy (b. 1943) discusses his upbringing as part of an Irish-American family in Charleston. His paternal grandfather, William J. Duffy, emigrated from County Donegal, and the family settled in the coal region of Pennsylvania. His mother’s side of the family came over from Clonmel, County Tipperary, through New Orleans and settled in Charleston. Michael travelled to Annagry, in a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) region on the West coast of Ireland, on a search for more information about the Duffys, and stumbled upon a pub where he was able to get more information about the Duffys from that region. He has pieced together much of his family’s background since but is still searching for more information. He has travelled numerous times to Ireland and has built numerous friendships through his travels. In his discussion of growing up as an Irish-Catholic in Charleston, he recalls some of the anti-Catholic sentiments he encountered in childhood, specifically the vivid memories of his childhood friend’s mothers asking him peculiar questions about the Pope. He acknowledges that the Catholic church, and the various duties and services associated with it, played a central role in his upbringing. He speaks about the current Irish community in Charleston, and how the Hibernian Society is taking steps to promote Irish culture in the city, whether by bringing Irish music in, or through commemorative or educational events such as the building of the Irish Memorial on Charlotte Street. Michael is immensely proud of his Irish-American background, and of the contributions the Irish-American immigrants have made in the States.
Michael Duffy (b. 1943) discusses his upbringing as part of an Irish-American family in Charleston. His paternal grandfather, William J. Duffy, emigrated from County Donegal, and his family settled in the coal region of Pennsylvania. His mother’s side of the family came over from Clonmel, County Tipperary through New Orleans and settled in Charleston. Michael travelled to Annagry, a village in a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) region on the West coast of Ireland, in search for more information about the Duffys. He stumbled upon a pub where he was able to get more information about the Duffys from that region and has since pieced together much of his family’s background, but he is still searching for more information. He has travelled often to Ireland and has built numerous friendships through his travels. Discussing his upbringing as an Irish Catholic in Charleston, Michael recalls some of the anti-Catholic sentiments he encountered in childhood. He acknowledges that the Catholic Church and the various duties and services associated with it played a central role in his upbringing. He speaks about the current Irish community in Charleston and about how the Hibernian Society is taking steps to promote Irish culture in the city. Michael is immensely proud of his Irish-American background and of the contributions Irish-Americans have made in the United States.
Personal or Corporate Subject:
Catholic Church, Hibernian Society (Charleston, S.C.)
