The Anam C’ara Award
“Is namhaid í an cheird gan í a fhoghlaim.”
“A craft is an enemy if not learned.”
“Is namhaid í an cheird gan í a fhoghlaim.”
“A craft is an enemy if not learned.”
The Gaelic term Anam C’ara is translated as Soul Friend. It represents one who has bound themselves to another through an act of friendship and belonging. We recognize the contributions of those who have shared their time, treasures, and talents in giving back to the Community by preserving and promoting Lowell’s Irish Culture, and the Acre neighborhood.
The following are the 2022 recipients of St. Patrick Parish Anam C’ara Award:
The following are the 2022 recipients of St. Patrick Parish Anam C’ara Award:
Philip L. Shea
Philip L. Shea hails from Lowell’s Acre neighborhood, having grown up on Lewis Street in the North Common Village. He is a graduate of Lowell High School, and attended Bentley University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. Thanks in great part to his public service, Lowell enjoyed a great period of revitalization. Phil served our region in the Lowell City Council, Massachusetts House of Representatives, State Senate, Lowell Regional Transit Authority and the Lowell Housing Authority, and is the only individual to have served on the Council, Senate and House of Representatives during almost 8 decades of Lowell’s Plan E form of government. After many years of service in elected positions, Phil continued his public services in the appointed position of Budget Director in the Secretary of State’s office, and retired in 2002 as the Secretary’s Chief Financial Officer.
He is well known for providing mentorship opportunities to young persons interested in public service, and has consistently emphasized that the guiding force in political life was to never forget from whence he came. Phil has publicly praised the values he learned due to his upbringing in the Acre, and regularly reminisces about his wonderful life lessons and experiences in the neighborhood of St. Patrick’s Church. Phil also created a scholarship fund, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars to young residents of public housing in Lowell with dreams of achieving higher education.
In June of 2021, the Lowell community dedicated the Philip L. Shea Bridge, over the Western Canal, in the vicinity of St. Patrick’s Church. The dedicatory plaque affixed to the bridge provides us a permanent reminder of Phil Shea and the importance of the Acre neighborhood in his life. At the ceremony dedicating the bridge, Phil’s friend and former boss Bill Galvin stated, “In many ways, Phil represents the spirit of the city of Lowell..He’s a guy that never went down for the count, always comes up, all the time, continuing to work for the city of Lowell.” The Irish Cultural Committee s
is honored to consider Phil an Anam Cara.
Philip L. Shea hails from Lowell’s Acre neighborhood, having grown up on Lewis Street in the North Common Village. He is a graduate of Lowell High School, and attended Bentley University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. Thanks in great part to his public service, Lowell enjoyed a great period of revitalization. Phil served our region in the Lowell City Council, Massachusetts House of Representatives, State Senate, Lowell Regional Transit Authority and the Lowell Housing Authority, and is the only individual to have served on the Council, Senate and House of Representatives during almost 8 decades of Lowell’s Plan E form of government. After many years of service in elected positions, Phil continued his public services in the appointed position of Budget Director in the Secretary of State’s office, and retired in 2002 as the Secretary’s Chief Financial Officer.
He is well known for providing mentorship opportunities to young persons interested in public service, and has consistently emphasized that the guiding force in political life was to never forget from whence he came. Phil has publicly praised the values he learned due to his upbringing in the Acre, and regularly reminisces about his wonderful life lessons and experiences in the neighborhood of St. Patrick’s Church. Phil also created a scholarship fund, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars to young residents of public housing in Lowell with dreams of achieving higher education.
In June of 2021, the Lowell community dedicated the Philip L. Shea Bridge, over the Western Canal, in the vicinity of St. Patrick’s Church. The dedicatory plaque affixed to the bridge provides us a permanent reminder of Phil Shea and the importance of the Acre neighborhood in his life. At the ceremony dedicating the bridge, Phil’s friend and former boss Bill Galvin stated, “In many ways, Phil represents the spirit of the city of Lowell..He’s a guy that never went down for the count, always comes up, all the time, continuing to work for the city of Lowell.” The Irish Cultural Committee s
is honored to consider Phil an Anam Cara.
Devin Visconte
Mr. Devin Visconti became the operations and finance manager of Saint Patrick Cemetery and Saint Mary Cemetery in 2019. With a degree in business administration he started his career as a staff accountant for the cemetery and soon moved to the management position. Since that time Mr. Visconti has engaged in numerous improvements to the record keeping, cemetery renovations, and preserving the cemetery’s historical past.
The cemetery was founded in 1832 and today holds over 125,000 internments. Over almost 200 years many of the markers had begun to sink into the ground, whether by a lack of a proper foundation, or through the overgrowth of turf over time. For the past 3 summers Mr. Visconti has overseen workers who have raised flat markers to ground level and have put in a more secure base to prevent future sinkage. The project has listed several hundred stones especially in Yards 3 & 6. He began the task by starting with the markers of veteran from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II and Korea. He also has completed work on the markers of the Sisters of various orders (Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sisters of Charity, and the Sisters of St. Mary). He also has reseeded the lawns of some of these areas. Visitors to the cemetery might also notice that a number of flowering perennials have also been added to the landscaping. Those who enjoy walking through the cemetery have commented on the cleaning of marble monument, especially the tall, white obelisks in Yard 3. Mr. Visconti, along with volunteers, have been cleaning the monuments one at a time. Use of conservation approved and environmentally friendly products, they are slowly returning the white markers to their original brilliance.
Keeping track of the names and pertinent details of all those who rest in the cemetery is a task for someone with fine attention to detail. Many are often puzzled at why the name of someone who is in the cemetery is not in the computer system. Little wonder since record keeping wasn’t begun until 1894. Mr. Visconti has added over 6000 names that were previously unlisted. Probably the greatest strength of Devin Visconti has been the amount of personal detail he gives to visitors to the cemetery. Devin can often be seen guiding a relative to the grave of a loved one. On any given Saturday or Sunday he might be found raising a stone or digging up turf in preparation for new grass seed, all on his own time. For this the Irish Cultural Committee names Devin Visconti as an Anam C'ara, a soul friend of St. Patricks.
Mr. Devin Visconti became the operations and finance manager of Saint Patrick Cemetery and Saint Mary Cemetery in 2019. With a degree in business administration he started his career as a staff accountant for the cemetery and soon moved to the management position. Since that time Mr. Visconti has engaged in numerous improvements to the record keeping, cemetery renovations, and preserving the cemetery’s historical past.
The cemetery was founded in 1832 and today holds over 125,000 internments. Over almost 200 years many of the markers had begun to sink into the ground, whether by a lack of a proper foundation, or through the overgrowth of turf over time. For the past 3 summers Mr. Visconti has overseen workers who have raised flat markers to ground level and have put in a more secure base to prevent future sinkage. The project has listed several hundred stones especially in Yards 3 & 6. He began the task by starting with the markers of veteran from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II and Korea. He also has completed work on the markers of the Sisters of various orders (Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sisters of Charity, and the Sisters of St. Mary). He also has reseeded the lawns of some of these areas. Visitors to the cemetery might also notice that a number of flowering perennials have also been added to the landscaping. Those who enjoy walking through the cemetery have commented on the cleaning of marble monument, especially the tall, white obelisks in Yard 3. Mr. Visconti, along with volunteers, have been cleaning the monuments one at a time. Use of conservation approved and environmentally friendly products, they are slowly returning the white markers to their original brilliance.
Keeping track of the names and pertinent details of all those who rest in the cemetery is a task for someone with fine attention to detail. Many are often puzzled at why the name of someone who is in the cemetery is not in the computer system. Little wonder since record keeping wasn’t begun until 1894. Mr. Visconti has added over 6000 names that were previously unlisted. Probably the greatest strength of Devin Visconti has been the amount of personal detail he gives to visitors to the cemetery. Devin can often be seen guiding a relative to the grave of a loved one. On any given Saturday or Sunday he might be found raising a stone or digging up turf in preparation for new grass seed, all on his own time. For this the Irish Cultural Committee names Devin Visconti as an Anam C'ara, a soul friend of St. Patricks.
Irish Micky Ward
“Irish” Micky Ward, is a native Lowellian and professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2003. Micky’s great-grandparents fled Ireland, settling in Lowell to work as laborers and in the mills.
As a boxer, Micky trained locally at the West End gym under the direction of Arthur Ramahlo. He won the Golden Gloves 3 times before turning professional in 1985.
Micky held the light welterweight title in 2000, and is widely known for his trilogy of fights with a friendly rival, Arturo Gatti. Micky always represented his Lowell and Irish roots at his fights, proudly wearing a Lowell Spinners jersey into the ring, and using his nickname Irish Micky Ward for his introductions. On May 18, 2002, Micky won a fight against Gatti with a 9th round knockdown and a majority decision. Ring Magazine named the event “fight of the year.” A rematch was held in November, 2002, with Gatti winning in the third round. The two fighters agreed to a third match in 2003. Although Gatti won, Ring Magazine named the match “fight of the year” for 2003, due to the tenacity of both athletes, resulting in the third straight fight of the year honor for Micky. The last athletes to achieve such an honor were Rocky Marciano and Carmen Basilio in the 1950s.
Actor Mark Wahlberg portrayed Micky in the 2010 film, The Fighter, based on his career and many local residents including coaches and cops played themselves!
In 2005, Micky started the non-profit charitable organization Team Micky Ward Charities, to provide financial assistance to children and families in need to help to improve everyday quality of life. He has organized numerous events, such as golf tournaments and bike runs, to raise finances for those in need, regardless of race, religion, age, or ethnicity. Micky has also donated his time on countless occasions to speak to school aged children, encouraging them to work hard and not give up on their dreams.
A successful athlete who never forgot his roots, and always remembers to give back to his community, Micky Ward is a worthy recipient of the Anam C'ara honors.
“Irish” Micky Ward, is a native Lowellian and professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2003. Micky’s great-grandparents fled Ireland, settling in Lowell to work as laborers and in the mills.
As a boxer, Micky trained locally at the West End gym under the direction of Arthur Ramahlo. He won the Golden Gloves 3 times before turning professional in 1985.
Micky held the light welterweight title in 2000, and is widely known for his trilogy of fights with a friendly rival, Arturo Gatti. Micky always represented his Lowell and Irish roots at his fights, proudly wearing a Lowell Spinners jersey into the ring, and using his nickname Irish Micky Ward for his introductions. On May 18, 2002, Micky won a fight against Gatti with a 9th round knockdown and a majority decision. Ring Magazine named the event “fight of the year.” A rematch was held in November, 2002, with Gatti winning in the third round. The two fighters agreed to a third match in 2003. Although Gatti won, Ring Magazine named the match “fight of the year” for 2003, due to the tenacity of both athletes, resulting in the third straight fight of the year honor for Micky. The last athletes to achieve such an honor were Rocky Marciano and Carmen Basilio in the 1950s.
Actor Mark Wahlberg portrayed Micky in the 2010 film, The Fighter, based on his career and many local residents including coaches and cops played themselves!
In 2005, Micky started the non-profit charitable organization Team Micky Ward Charities, to provide financial assistance to children and families in need to help to improve everyday quality of life. He has organized numerous events, such as golf tournaments and bike runs, to raise finances for those in need, regardless of race, religion, age, or ethnicity. Micky has also donated his time on countless occasions to speak to school aged children, encouraging them to work hard and not give up on their dreams.
A successful athlete who never forgot his roots, and always remembers to give back to his community, Micky Ward is a worthy recipient of the Anam C'ara honors.