These oral history recordings, produced by the Museum of Newport Irish History,
depict the rich and varied Newport Irish experience.
David Arnold and Ann Arnold
Interview date: April 2019
Interviewer/Videographer/Editor: Lawrence J. Kraman
Discuss their late father, Vincent Arnold, founding president of the Museum of Newport Irish History
Mary Ellen Atkins
Interview date: April 2019
Interviewer/Videographer/Editor: Lawrence J. Kraman
Great-great grandfather was an Irish stonemason who worked at Fort Adams and helped build St. Mary’s Church.
Philip Driscoll
Interview date: April 2019
Interviewer/Videographer/Editor: Lawrence J. Kraman
His Irish great-grandfather was head gardener at a Newport estate
Marion Galvin (AKA “The Purple Lady”)
Interview date: June 2019
Interviewer/Videographer/Editor: Lawrence J. Kraman
Lifelong resident of the Fifth Ward, where focus was on church and community.
Grandparents on both sides came from Ireland in the 1860s. One helped build The Breakers.
Dr. Tom Galvin
Interview date: April 2019
Interviewer/Videographer/Editor: Lawrence J. Kraman
His maternal grandfather, a Murphy, was an Irish immigrant who worked as a lineman for the electric company, met his wife, an Irish domestic, on the Cliff Walk.
Deanna Conheeny
Interview date: May 2017
Interviewer/Videographer: Donna McCarthy and Steve Marino
Video Editing: Lawrence J. Kraman
Newporter whose family has deep roots in the Fifth Ward.
Segment 1 (grandparents’ story):
Segment 2 (parents’ story):
Segment 3 (father’s side story):
Segment 4 (childhood memories):
Elizabeth “Beth” (McManus) Cullen
Interview date: February 2017
Interviewer/Videographer: Donna McCarthy and Steve Marino
Video Editing: Lawrence J. Kraman
Great-grandparents from Roscommon. Shared her perspective on Newport “North End Irish.”
John “Jack” Curran
Interview date: January 2017
Interviewer/Videographer: Donna McCarthy and Steve Marino
Video Editing: Lawrence J. Kraman
Retired English teacher. Born in the Fifth Ward, but most childhood years spent in home on Golden Hill St. Returned to the Fifth Ward later in life.
Patrick F. Murphy
Interview date: December 2014
Interviewer/Videographer: Donna McCarthy and Steve Marino
Video Editing: Lawrence J. Kraman
Historian for the City of Newport and local genealogist. His mother, one of 7 children, was born in County Kerry. Father, born in Newport, one of 11.
Patricia “Maeve” Sheehan
Interview date: February 2014
Interviewer/Videographer: Donna McCarthy and Steve Marino
Video Editing: Lawrence J. Kraman
Immigrant from Cork who came to U.S. after college. After some years in Massachusetts, moved to Newport and delighted to learn how “Irish” a town.