Honouring General Stephen Moylan, from the 'Shandon Bells' to the 'Liberty Bell'
Stephen Moylan was born in 1737 to a prominent merchant family from Blarney Street in Cork City. Educated in France and Portugal, he engaged in trade with the 'American colonies' and in 1768 emigrated to Philadelphia, PA. He was commissioned by George Washington to senior posts in the revolutionary US Army.
He is recognised as the first person to use the term 'United States of America', in writing, in a letter dated 2 January 1776.
The year 2026 also marks the 250th Anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
On 7th Feb 2026, a plaque was unveiled at the Rock Community Centre Blarney Street honouring Stephen Moylan, by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Fergal Dennehy. The event was organised by the community of Blarney Street in conjunction with Cork City Council and the Irish-America 250 organisation and historian Michelle O'Mahony.
At the event, Brian McGee, the Senior Archivist of Cork City and County Archives, was honoured to receive an original copy of the 1909 biography of General Stephen Moylan by Martin I. J. Griffin, from the Friendly Sons & Daughters of Saint Patrick of Philadelphia USA, for inclusion in the Archives' collection.
The event was completed by performance of the superb folk song, 'Philadelphia’s Fields (The Ballad of Stephen Moylan)' which is composed by Dave McGilton in honour of America’s 250th birthday. Hear it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FJSnr6X02rI?si=UxnFcw0eK09nt1DY