Irish Americans

Karen Hicks

Lenora Overstreet

Radford University

EDUC 670

Prof. Dembele

History

Early Irish immigrates include 8 signers of the Declaration of Independence

Irish began arriving in large numbers during the Potato Famine (1845-1852)

They came to America because they knew their life in Ireland would only be more poverty, disease, and English oppression.

“No group was considered lower than an Irishman in American during the 1850’s” (www.kinsella.org).

Most were very poor, unskilled and illiterate.

The Irish would take on whatever job they could to make money.

Irish gained strength in their solidarity. They helped each other survive in city life.

Fiercely loved America

Fought in America’s wars

Civil War – “Irish Brigade” was led in prayer by a priest before and after each battle.

The American Civil War was a unifying event for the Irish communities communities.

This infrastructure and organization advanced the Irish in postwar America.

The Irish became a dominant force in urban labor organizations, Democratic Party politics and city governments

Percent of the Population

By 1848 through emigration and deaths by famine, Ireland's population decreased by more than 2 million people

From 1820-1860, 1/3 of US immigrants were Irish (2/3 of this number were Catholic)

A total of 35,975,855 Americans (12% of total population) reported Irish ancestry in the 2006 American Community Survey.

Population (continued)

Most significant areas in population are: Northeast, along with Kansas City, and Savannah, GA

New York City has more Irish people than Dublin’s whole population!

Past & Present Issues

The Irish were discriminated against because they were considered “bad” for the neighborhood.

They were forced to live in shanties or cellars which led to disease and death for many of their children.

Once other immigrants increased in number, hostility against the Irish shifted to the new nationalities.

Intermarriage between Catholics and Protestants was uncommon (and strongly discouraged by both ministers and priests).

Past/Present IssuesJob discrimination (only group to visually see signs of the discrimination)

Irish women dominated the domestic market workplace

3 Main Negative Stereotypes

• The drinker

• The rebel

• The boxer

(fighting Irish)

Positive Stereotypes

The hard worker

Police officer

Firefighter

Roman Catholic

Church leaders

Politicians along Eastern seaboard cities

Prominent Irish President J.F. KennedySt. Patrick The Anglo-Irish scientist Robert Boyle is considered the "father of chemistry".

Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe

Edgar Allen PoeWill Rogers

Georgia O’KeefeBobby Jones

Media that reveal the group’s cultural

perspective• American Foundation for Irish Heritage – lists the

contributions of the Irish in America to the growth and development of the US http://irishamericanheritage.com/

• New York Irish Center. Your main source for all things Irish in New York City www.nyirish.org

• Explore Irish Culture www.allaboutirish.com• Irish Culture and Customs

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/• Sinn Fein (the fastest-growing political party in Ireland. It is a

republican and labor party) http://sinnfein.ie/ • Local Ireland (history, gov’t, entertainment, lifestyles, etc)

http://www.local.ie/index.html • A listing of Irish movies in chronological order http://

www.irishfilm.net/title.php?range=RS

Irish Movie - Hunger

Directed by Steve McQueen

Won the Camera d'Or (golden camera) award at the Cannes film Festival this year.

The film looks at Bobby Sands who was a Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike whilst in HM Prison Maze for the possession of firearms.

Irish MovieIn Bruges

w/Colin Farrell

Two Irish hit men are sent to Bruges, Belgium to hide out. In some ways, this makes the film more Belgian than Irish. Still, the point is really about how the characters react to their new environment. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, & Ralph Finnes star in this action comedy.

Irish MovieSt. Patrick: The Irish

Legend• St. Patrick, who

brought Christianity to Ireland, remains popular in modern culture though few know his history. This film drama of his life includes his history and the miracles associated with him.

Irish Media in the US

East Coast PeriodicalsBoston Irish Reporter

The Irish Echo

Irish Edition

West Coast PeriodicalsThe Irish Herald

RadioAbout Irish Radio

Ways that there are differences within the

group• Language

– Gaeilge (Irish) – with many dialects– English (education and employment)

• Religion– Roman Catholic (88%)– Protestant

Children’s Books

Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland

• “Celebrate St. Patricks's Day with Tomie dePaola's captivating folk-art style illustrations and engaging story of Patrick, a boy who grew up to become the patron saint of Ireland.

Tales from Old IrelandCollection of Irish folk- and fairy tales which include: "The Children of Lir," a well-known folktale "Fair, Brown, and Trembling," an Irish Cinderella story "The Twelve Wild Geese," a tale of family love and loyalty

The St. Patrick’s day Shillelagh

• During the Irish potato famine, Fergus and his family left for America. Fergus sliced a branch from a blackthorn tree so that he could take a piece of Ireland with him. On the voyage, he carved a tree branch into a shillelagh. Each St. Patrick's Day, Fergus told his story of coming to America and of the shillelagh that he brought with him.

Fair, Brown, & Trembling

• Trembling is the overworked and overlooked sibling of her two older snooty sisters Fair and Brown. Unlike the original Cinderella story, the place to catch their prince is not at a Ball, but at Sunday Mass. All women try to look their best for that occasion. An old henwife acts as the fairy godmother.

• The End!!

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