Tattered Jeans

A gullywasher couldn't stop this annual Irish fete; the flask of whiskey helpedbut not like you think

The washing by Patrick Muggins and son.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Michael Griffin, president of the Irish 100 Club, serving up Irish Whiskey for atoast.
Photo by Katie Oxford
The opening ceremony of the 42nd Ceremonial Cleaning of the Dick Dowling Statueon March 11 with the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Swanson Boy Scouts.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Helen D. Mooty as Jane Long, "Mother of Texas," telling the story of "FourFeisty Women of Texas."
Photo by Katie Oxford
Larry Joe Miggins makes the wash with his own special blend.
Photo by Katie Oxford
The Miggins brothers: Neil, from left, Patrick, Larry Joe, Thomas and Michael.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Lucy Miggins, from left, Claire Miggins, Larry Miggins and Molly Miggins.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Laying of the wreath by Dowling descendants.
Photo by Katie Oxford
The John Bell Hood Color Guard of Galveston.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Kathleen Muggins
Photo by Katie Oxford
Kathleen and Larry Miggins, parents of 12 and grandparents of 35 children.
Photo by Katie Oxford
A toast to Dick Dowling: Capt. Don Herlitz of 11th Texas Field Artillery, fromleft, The John Bell Hood Color Guard of Galveston and Larry Joe Miggins.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Jane Long was awarded a medal, a replica of the only medal given during theCivil War by Robert E. Lee.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Kathleen Miggins, from left, Sherl Miggins, Fiona Swanson, Helen Mooty (JaneLong), Maureen Miggins Swanson and Kathleen Miggins Hibbler...all "feisty Texaswomen," says Larry Joe Miggins.
Photo by Katie Oxford

In spite of Sunday’s gullywasher, the 42nd Ceremonial Cleaning of the Dick Dowling Statue in Hermann Park took place. That morning, I stupidly made some phone calls to inquire if the event was still on but no one was home. When I showed up at the site wearing boots and a slicker, everyone was already in place and standing at attention. By days’ end, I was reminded that gullywasher or not, there is nothing more fun than spending an afternoon with the Irish!

Dick Dowling, seemingly, was a gutsy guy and also likeable. What Irish person isn’t?

He’s most remembered as the Irish Confederate hero in the Battle of Sabine Pass (Sept. 8, 1863). What I didn’t know was his strong connection to Houston.

Larry Joe Miggins mixed his own special blend for the occasion. He poured a gallon of water into a brass bucket and added a wee bit of Irish whiskey from a flask. Of course, after the washing, toasting the honoree seemed appropriate.

Born in Milltown, near Tuam, County Galway, Ireland, Dowling, and his family of 10 immigrated to America in 1846 and settled in New Orleans. After losing his parents and all but two siblings to Yellow Fever, he came to Houston and opened several saloons in 1857. One, called, “The Bank,” (Bank of Bacchus) was located just across the street from Houston’s courthouse. Dowling was involved in establishing Houston’s first gaslight company, streetcar company and fire department.

When the Civil War broke out, Dowling joined the Texas unit. Later, as Lieutenant Dowling, he was given an artillery post at Fort Griffin on the Sabine River. Amazingly, because of their artillery skills, Dowling and 44 men (mostly Irish) known as the Jefferson Davis Guards forced a Union navy flotilla of 5,000 to retreat, thus, “thwarting a Union invasion of Texas.”

Dowling’s monument has moved several times. Dedicated on St. Patrick’s Day in 1905, it was originally placed at Houston City Hall on Market Square and, later, was moved to Sam Houston Park. In 1958, it found its final resting place on the southeast edge of Hermann Park (near the intersection of Hermann Park Loop, Holcombe and North MacGregor).

The Larry Miggins family, a Houston family of Irish descent (and all delightful), has been responsible for cleaning the monument since 1963. In 1970, the cleaning became a ceremonial event. Miggins from ages 3 and up participate in every aspect of the event. Having now attended one, I will not want to miss another!

After the laying of the wreath performed by Dowling descendants, the guest speaker, Helen D. Mooty (director of the Galveston County Museum) told us a story. Dressed in the guise of Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (known as the Mother of Texas) she talked about “Four Feisty Women of Texas.” Margaret McCormick, Jane Long, ‘Kate’ Dorman and Obedience Smith. Using an Irish accent, she told the story laced with humor. Apparently, “Obedience wasn’t so obedient,” she said.

Afterwards came the ceremonial washing of the statue. With the gullywasher and all, I figured that the monument was pretty well cleaned. However, Larry Joe Miggins mixed his own special blend for the occasion. He poured a gallon of water into a brass bucket and added a wee bit of Irish whiskey from a flask. Of course, after the washing, toasting the honoree seemed appropriate.

Cups were raised to Dick Dowling and others. Larry Joe explained, “We’re not here to glorify war. We’re here to honor courage, selflessness and to all those who stood up then and to those standing up today.”

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Event Program:

Greeting by Larry Joe Miggins

Invocation by Larry Miggins

Presenting Colors by John Bell Hood Color Guard of Galveston

Singing of the National Anthem by Maureen Miggins Swanson

Pledge of Allegiance by the Swanson Boy Scouts

Calling of the Piper

Laying of the Wreath by Dowling Descendants

Introduction of the speaker, “Feisty Women That Made Texas Great”

Helen Mooty, Director of the Galveston County Museum

Ceremonial Washing of the Statue by Pat Miggins

Final Remarks by Kathleen Miggins

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”