Philadelphia’s Irish community is gifted with several societies and associations for people with family ties back to counties throughout the Emerald Isle, but the Derry Society is relatively small.
Small, yes … but mighty.
Unlike larger county associations, the Derry folks don’t host a large fancy gala. Nothing against the big, splashy events—Derry Society people happily support and attend them, dressed to the nines. However, Derry generally hosts less formal events. Their Spring Fling on Saturday, April 22, at the Irish Center is a good example. It’s strictly casual.
The Spring Fling, like the society’s lively Halloween party and other events, harnesses the power of small. Currently, says Derry Society treasurer Eugene O’Gara, “I’d say we have maybe 20 or so members who are active participants who march in the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s parade, come to meetings, and whatever. And we have peripheral members who don’t show up as much, or who visit our Facebook page. They may come to a meeting or two, pay their dues, maybe not come around for a year, and then come back in.”
That said, the Derry Society hosts events during the year, such as the always well attended Bloody Sunday Mass, commemorating the January 30, 1972, massacre of 14 innocent civilians by British soldiers in the city of Derry’s Bogside section. And like the other, larger county societies, the Derry Society hosts fundraisers and uses the proceeds to support local and even international Irish causes, from area Ancient Order of Hibernian divisions to the Museum of Free Derry.
And just as other local county associations support them—as witness many recent donations to the Spring Fling by Tyrone, Mayo, and others—the Derry Society typically returns the favor. When it comes to the city’s county societies and associations, it’s all for one and one for all.
Not too shabby for an association that lay dormant for many years.
The modern-day Derry Society has its roots in the Catholic Sons of Derry of Philadelphia—all men, of course—beginning in June 1909. “I don’t know how many years the society was inactive,” says O’Gara. “It’s difficult to find that information. But about 2010 or so, it was restarted by Billy Donohue, and we’ve been going strong since then as far as meeting and holding fundraisers and contributing to the Irish community.”
And, as with all the other county societies and associations in Philadelphia, the men’s club days are long over. Rosaleen McWilliams Rotondi is the Derry Society’s current president. “We’ve come a long way,” she laughs. She follows in the footsteps of family members who came before her.
“My uncle Jimmy McErlean was president in 1946,” she says. “I was going through some books that we were getting ready for the Irish Center’s library, and I found his signature. At the time, dues were 25 cents. And then, in 1986, my brother P.J.—Patrick McWilliams—was president. It’s an honor for me having that as being part of my family.”
The Derry Society is for anyone who has roots in the county. Rotondi’s roots run deep. She was born in Maghera in County Derry—population 4,220—and the family moved to the Philadelphia area when she was very young. “My father Patrick being from the north of Ireland and in Derry, he needed to get out,” Rotondi says. “Unfortunately, my father died nine years after we came here. So, there were rough beginnings, but we made it. My mother raised five children and put four of them in the service, and we did all right.”
Both of O’Gara’s parents—John and Mary—were born and raised in County Derry but emigrated and met in Philadelphia.
Your family ties needn’t be that strong, but if you have Derry roots at all, the Derry Society is a friendly bunch and wants you. “We’re always recruiting,” says Rotondi. “Last week I was in the Irish coffee shop in Havertown, just paying my bill, and I saw some boys wearing Derry jackets, and right away, I was asking: Who are you? Where are you from? I talked up the Irish Center and the Derry Society. That, for me, is exciting. I just love being a part of it because the crew is good, we’re all supportive, and it’s all about bringing people together and letting everybody know about Derry.”
If you want to join, drop by the Irish Center—otherwise known as the Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center, 6815 Emlen Street in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia—the third Sunday of the month, at 3 p.m. (All the county societies meet at the center on that day.)
And in the meantime, you’re invited to attend the society’s fun Spring Fling, from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday at the Irish Center. It costs $35 per person, with cash bar, buffet, and plenty of danceable tunes by Declan McLaughlin and Timmy Trahey. For tickets, contact Rotondi at 215-820-3572 or Mary Curran at 610-213-9911.
