A special society specifically for people from Derry or those who have Derry roots have opened up on how they are a 'small but mighty' group championing their home city in America.
Derry Society of Philadelphia drew in a large contingent of Maiden City natives when it was first established in 1909, and now boasts around 25 active members, and around 50 contributing online, who are proud to further their hometown's presence in the US.
Originally a male-only club named The Sons of Derry, the society petered out in the 1970s and 1980s before having a revival in 2010 that has endured the test of time until the present day, where Rosaleen McWilliams Rotondi, 70, and Vice President Jack Bolger, 66, are at the helm.
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"The Derry Society was one of the largest shareholders of the Irish Center when it was developed in the 1950s and 1960s and was very instrumental in its growth", Jack told IrishStar.com.
"We were very strong and the Derry Ball was big so I'm not sure why there was a lull and a lot of members didn't come back for one reason or another.
"There was a great amount of interest in starting it up again, though. We're probably the smallest society that meets at the Irish Center but we're very active, and we don't let it stop us."
Rosaleen continued: "The society picked up some steam again in the 1980s and 1990s but in 2010, one member, Bill Donohue, properly fired it back up, and there's been a robust group of us ever since.
A lot of our members are on Facebook, that's the platform where we're constantly getting new ones every month. We would like to have more active members than we do but the ones we do have are so committed.
"We can definitely compete with the others."
Rosaleen was born in Maghera in South Derry but grew up in Philadelphia after her family emigrated to the United States when she was three years old.
Her upbringing was "the typical immigrant story" of struggle - her father sadly passed away nine years into their arrival in the US - but was joyful in the sense that her mother maintained a hard-wearing link to Ireland.
Letters home were always written, and Rosaleen's family connections made it starkly known that despite her American childhood, she was a Derry girl through and through.
"Our mother raised five of us so it was simple and a little tough, but it was all extremely Irish. We were around the bed every night saying the rosary and going to mass every St Patrick's Day, it was just our way of living.
"The Derry Society, too, is in the family. My uncle, James McErlean was president in 1946 and my brother, Patrick, was president in 1986. My mother was also a very active member throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. She was their 'sunshine lady'. She took care of sending out mass cards if anyone was sick.
"We actually went through some books when the Irish Center was refurbishing the library and I found my uncle's signature from his meetings. I think their monthly membership fees at that time were 25 cents."
Jack's 13-year-long involvement with the Society was inspired by his grandmother, who was from Co Derry, and his grandfather, from Co Cork.
The couple came to Philadelphia in 1919 and 1920 respectively, initially as strangers, before marrying and rearing six children.
Jack spent a lot of time at the Irish Centre where he cultivated "fond memories" as a tot, and then again as an adult through his daughter's Irish dancing and his involvement in the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
"We're still very close to our cousins in Derry and there's a lot of travel back and forth", Jack went on. "We don't have the long phone calls like we used to, though. Everyone knows each other's business now with social media.
"My grandparents aren't around anymore and my father's passed but whenever I'm in Ireland, I make sure to stop in Derry, even if I'm traveling around.
"Around eight years ago, in fact, 35 of us from the Derry Society made a trip together. Derry was hosting the Fleadh at the time and we stayed at the City Hotel, right in the heart of town. There was something going on every night."
"We'd love to do a trip to Derry with this bunch", Rosaleen chipped in. "It'd be a blast. I go every year, I fly to Dublin and then get the bus up the road, but it would be quite something if we could organize a trip with this crew.
"But it's a lot of work. Bill Donohue organized the last holiday and did a great job but if you asked him to organize one the year after, I think he'd have said no!"
Although not always physical, the Society's relationship with Derry is solid. In recent years, the Society has made a sizeable donation to the Museum of Free Derry and played host to the always well-attended Bloody Sunday Mass, commemorating the January 30, 1972, massacre of 14 innocent civilians by British soldiers in the Bogside.
The Museum cheque can be seen displayed front and center of their well-lit cabinet in the Irish Center, alongside the Society's historic charter and the works of famed Derry native, writer, poet, and playwright, Seamus Heaney.
The Society also keeps its ear to the ground on Derry contemporary culture, and like the larger county societies, arranges fundraisers where the proceeds go to support international, as well as local, Irish causes.
"We don't have a gala anymore but we do host a Spring Fling every year", Jack explained. "Any money we do make, we like to donate it back to worthy causes. There's no reason for us to have a lot of money in the bank!
"We give nice a donation to the Irish Center every year to help keep the place financially sound. We all play a part in keeping this place going. It means so much to everybody.
"Going forward, we need young blood. Our members are getting a little older now so we're trying to encourage them to bring their kids and grandkids to the Irish Center and get involved in the activities.
"We do get a fair amount of young people from Ireland that come in but there's not enough. All you have to do is come here once or twice and the feel of the place should have you coming back."
He continued: "Everyone meets on the same Sunday, the third of the month, and we have a lot of fun. There's a buzz about the place. We have the fire blaring - the best seat in the house is in front of that fire with a glass of wine - and we listen to the kids playing their musical instruments. It's a great atmosphere."
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