SHE is far from the land where her young hero sleeps, 

And lovers around her are sighing; 

But coldly she turns from their gaze and weeps, 

For her heart in his grve is lying.!

 —Thomas Moore  

The Celtic Cross at Emmet Park

Robert Emmet is a tragic, heroic, and wonderfully romantic figure in Irish history. He led the unsuccessful Irish Rebellion of 1803 against the British rule of Ireland. Later executed for committing high treason against King George III, is a reminder that a similar fate would have befallen the Founding Fathers who led the American War for Independence had they not succeeded in our revolution.

After the rebellion failed, Emmet fled to be near the love of his life. When captured by the British authorities, he willingly confessed fearing doing otherwise would place his fiancée in peril. His love affair sparked a romantic flare out the pens of many Irish poets, including Thomas Moore.

While Emmet was tried and executed for the doomed rebellion he led, the speech he made while in the dock, along with the intriguing story of his love affair with Miss Sarah Curran, has resonated with his admirers and sympathizers ever since. His famous speech in the dock ended with the final lines:

“Let no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance, asperse them. Let them and me rest in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, and my memory in oblivion, until other times and other men can do justice to my character. When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not till then, let my epitaph be written.”

That rousing speech is the Irish version of a real-life Nathan-Hale-like moment in history!

A large contingency of Savannah’s early population immigrated from Ireland, many during the Irish Famine. Later, they set aside Emmet Park as a dedication to their hero. 

The Celtic Cross Monument was erected in the middle of Emmet Park in 1983 to celebrate the rich heritage of all Irish decedents who once lived or are still residing in Savannah. This beautiful cross is made of Irish-limestone and was hand-carved back in the old country.

The Celtic cross emerged in Ireland, France, and Britain during the Middle Ages. It features a nimbus or ring that encircles the intersection of the arms of the cross. This feature was unique to the Insular (meaning island) art that became widespread. Popular legend suggests that Saint Patrick introduced this type of Christian Cross to Ireland.

Unfortunately, this year Savannah had to cancel the running of the 196th Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade due to fears of the spreading Coronavirus. The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah is the second largest in the world, so 2020 has been a disappointment locally.

However, a group of Irish families still managed to lead a procession from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist to Emmet Park to complete the annual Celtic Cross Ceremony when the cross has a wreath placed before it. As all Savannahians and Irish like to shout out on St. Patrick’s Day: Éirinn go Brách!