Ellis Island Snippet: One in about every 25 of the immigrants to pass through Ellis Island (1892-1954) came from Ireland. The first ever was a young girl from Cork named Annie MOORE. Arriving on January 1, 1892, on her 15th birthday, Moore stepped off the "S. S. Nevada" to a new land and right into the history books. There to greet her as the first immigrant to enter the brand-new federal immigrant processing center in New York Harbor were city, state and federal officials who presented Annie with a certificate and a ten-dollar gold piece. MOORE's story was typical of many Irish immigrants. Her parents had sailed for America earlier, leaving Annie and her two brothers in the care of an aunt. Once they were settled, they sent for their children.