Ridge, John T.

John T. Ridge is a founding member and current president of the New York Irish History Roundtable. The son of Irish immigrants, Ridge is a Brooklyn-based historian whose work focuses on the influence of social events and organizations such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians, St. Patrick’s Day parades, and Gaelic language clubs, with particular emphasis on the greater New York City area. He has also led guided tours of immigration facilities and area cemeteries, and given lectures on various aspects of Irish and Irish American history. In addition to numerous essays and journal articles, Ridge also wrote the books The Flatbush Irish, Celebrating 250 Years of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Erin’s Sons in America: The Ancient Order of Hibernians, and Sligo in New York: The Irish From County Sligo, 1849-1991 .