The Wolfe Tone Division of Chester County was chartered on July 4, 1976.
Forty-five men reorganized the county contingent originally organized in 1864. Our Division now boasts over 120 members. The Division meets on the third Sunday of the month at 1:00 P.M. in the Knights of Columbus building on West Market Street in West Chester.
Current Officers:
Fr. Christopher Papa, Chaplain Bob McCann, Financial Secretary
Mick Dunleavy, President Mike Treston, Standing Committee Chairman
Art Treston, Vice President Dave Sweeney, Sentinel
Kevin Blake, Treasurer Tim Treston, New Members
Eric Wolfer, Recording Secretary Brian Treston, Marshal
Who was Wolfe Tone?
Theobald Wolfe Tone, regarded as the father of modern Irish nationalism
was born in 1763. He trained as a lawyer, but soon took an interest in Irish
independence and, subsequently, Catholic rights, which were very much
oppressed under an English, Protestant ascendancy. He joined the United
Irishmen and traveled to France to secure aid for an Irish revolution. He was
commissioned in the French army and sailed to Ireland with French troops in
1796. His fleet was scattered by storms, and Ireland’s great chance at
freedom passed. He traveled to America, living for a time in Chester County,
Pennsylvania. In 1798, he again went to France to arrange an expedition for
Ireland. Unfortunately, the French expedition arrived after the English had
already defeated the United Irish revolution. The English captured Tone and
tried him as a criminal despite his commission in the French army. He was
sentenced to death by hanging. Tone is buried at Bodenstown Churchyard
near Sallins, County Kildare. His nonsectarian, republican philosophy, based
on human rights outlook, very advanced for his time, continues to inspire
nationalists today. Chester County Division I is proud to bear his name.
Division I Achievements:
Our Division actively promotes Irish Culture through Music, Food, Dance,
History, and Education. We are remembered for our Annual Irish Festival
held at Sts. Peter & Paul in East Goshen Township, where thousands of
Catholic youth participated in the A.O.H Soccer Tournament. We have hosted
concerts at West Chester University and Immaculata University. We also
produced a “Northern Ireland Symposium” at West Chester University.
We provide Irish literature and periodicals to Bishop Shanahan High School
as well as many County elementary parochial schools. We have participated
in the West Chester Restaurant Festival, serving Irish Cheese, Salmon,
Scones, and pastries. For over 25 years, we have held a St. Patrick’s Day
festival, the proceeds of which have gone to Project Children and Catholic
high school scholarships. Since 1999, our Fall Irish Night has raised funds for
the pro-life organization Birthright of West Chester. Our Division has
marched in Dublin, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wilmington,
Norristown, and Jim Thorpe Saint Patrick’s Day parades. We love Ireland,
we love Chester County, Pennsylvania, and we try our best to exemplify the
values of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity.
