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| Duffy's Cut: Catherine Burns is buried in Clonoe | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A woman murdered in America 183 years ago has been buried in her native County Tyrone after her remains had lain in an unmarked grave. | |
| Catherine Burns, 29, left Ireland for the US in 1832 to begin a new life, but within six weeks she was dead. | Catherine Burns, 29, left Ireland for the US in 1832 to begin a new life, but within six weeks she was dead. |
| A funeral mass and burial took place at St Patrick's Church in Clonoe, near Coalisland. | |
| She was one of 57 Irish migrants hired to build a stretch of railway in Pennsylvania known as Duffy's Cut. | She was one of 57 Irish migrants hired to build a stretch of railway in Pennsylvania known as Duffy's Cut. |
| Within six weeks of arriving in Philadelphia, all 57 workers - who hailed from counties Donegal, Tyrone and Londonderry - were dead. | Within six weeks of arriving in Philadelphia, all 57 workers - who hailed from counties Donegal, Tyrone and Londonderry - were dead. |
| It is thought some died from cholera, while others were murdered by local people who believed the immigrants were spreading the disease. | It is thought some died from cholera, while others were murdered by local people who believed the immigrants were spreading the disease. |
| Most were buried anonymously in a mass grave near the shanty town where they lived and worked, but Catherine was among several workers buried separately. | Most were buried anonymously in a mass grave near the shanty town where they lived and worked, but Catherine was among several workers buried separately. |
| Officials with the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad never notified the immigrants' families of their deaths. | Officials with the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad never notified the immigrants' families of their deaths. |
| In the St Patrick's parish bulletin, parish priest Father Benny Fee said: "Today surely, all of Tyrone belongs to Catherine Burns. 183 years ago last month she landed at the port of Philadelphia in the hope of a new beginning and a new life. | In the St Patrick's parish bulletin, parish priest Father Benny Fee said: "Today surely, all of Tyrone belongs to Catherine Burns. 183 years ago last month she landed at the port of Philadelphia in the hope of a new beginning and a new life. |
| "Within six weeks those hopes would be shattered and her dream dashed. | "Within six weeks those hopes would be shattered and her dream dashed. |
| "Catherine was dead. She was one of 57 victims of disease and violence at a place that would be infamously known as Duffy's Cut. | "Catherine was dead. She was one of 57 victims of disease and violence at a place that would be infamously known as Duffy's Cut. |
| "Today almost two centuries later after being buried in an unmarked grave it is our solemn privilege to welcome home to her native Tyrone Catherine's mortal remains and to lay them to rest with the prayers and rites of the church and with the dignity and respect they deserve." | "Today almost two centuries later after being buried in an unmarked grave it is our solemn privilege to welcome home to her native Tyrone Catherine's mortal remains and to lay them to rest with the prayers and rites of the church and with the dignity and respect they deserve." |
| This is the second repatriation of remains found at Duffy's Cut, now a wooded area behind suburban homes in the borough of Malvern, about 20 miles west of Philadelphia. | This is the second repatriation of remains found at Duffy's Cut, now a wooded area behind suburban homes in the borough of Malvern, about 20 miles west of Philadelphia. |
| In 2013, 18-year-old John Ruddy was reburied at Ardara, County Donegal. | In 2013, 18-year-old John Ruddy was reburied at Ardara, County Donegal. |
| An investigation into what happened to the 57 Irish workers began in 2002, when Malvern's Immaculata University professor Bill Watson, his twin brother Frank, a Lutheran minister, and fellow Immaculata professor Earl Schandelmeier, began the Duffy's Cut archival and research project. | An investigation into what happened to the 57 Irish workers began in 2002, when Malvern's Immaculata University professor Bill Watson, his twin brother Frank, a Lutheran minister, and fellow Immaculata professor Earl Schandelmeier, began the Duffy's Cut archival and research project. |
| Bill, Frank and Earl accompanied Catherine on her journey home to County Tyrone and are attending the wake and the funeral in Clonoe. | Bill, Frank and Earl accompanied Catherine on her journey home to County Tyrone and are attending the wake and the funeral in Clonoe. |