After 170 years, the sacrifice of hundreds of Irish refugees recognized with Deer Island memorial
PHOTO BY BILL BRETT This portrait of William T. O’Connell, who worked for years to build the Irish Famine Memorial in Boston Harbor was taken for Bill’s fifth book, “Boston: Irish.” Bill and his wife, Rita, worked for years to build the memorial. Both O’Connells died before the memorial was built. By Carol Beggy WINTHROP — Some 600 people gathered on a bright Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend to dedicate a permanent marker to…