Hugh Cummiskey

Hugh Cummiskey (1789 – December 12, 1871) was a leader of the early Irish community in Lowell, Massachusetts in the United States.

Cummiskey was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and immigrated to Massachusetts in 1817. Cummiskey, while working as a dock worker in Charlestown, Boston, led 30 Irishmen in search of work 30 miles from Charlestown along the Middlesex Canal to Lowell on April 6, 1822. Prior to this, Hugh had asked Kirk Boott for the work. They were received by Boott at Frye's Tavern where he gave then tools and some funds for food. Little provision was made for housing; the mill owners considered them temporary workers. (It wasn't until 1828 that Cummiskey made Lowell his permanent home

Given Cummiskey's construction and leadership abilities first demonstrated at the Charlestown shipyard, it is easy to understand how came to be so popular both with the Irish and the Mill bosses. He was known for finding work for his men even in difficult times creating strong loyalty from his workers. He also served the Catholic church by acting as the Lowell agent for the Boston Catholic newspaper The Pilot in the late 1830s. In 1833-1834 he was a key figure in the Irish Benevolent Society, a type of friendly society. In 1843-1844, he was a member of the Common Council.

And as he became even more wealthy, he continued to live in the Paddy Camp as did many other Irish middle class. His purchase of land at Lowell and Merrimack streets was the first recorded land transaction between the Lock's and Canals. During the years 1831 and 1837 he added more land to his holdings on or near Lowell, Fenwick, Merrimack and Thorndike streets. At one point, he was one of the largest landowners in the Acre (including the Paddy Camp lands). In 1862, he offered his boarding house as the first hospital for the Irish.

Hugh died in 1871. There is no known image of Cummiskey.