Irish in America
Down the centuries people from the north east corner of Ireland, as well as people from across the continent of Europe, flooded into north America to develop and build the new world.
The first Irish rush came in the late 17th and the 18th centuries and was mostly Protestant (Scots-Irish) and in the mid 19th centruy the second major wave crossed the Atlantic, this time mostly Catholic (Ulster Irish or Irish American).
These people have contributed enormously to all aspects of American society. The descendants of those who were often forced by circumstances to flee their native land embraced fully the opportunities offered by the New World and helped mould the modern United States.
Their descendants continue the proud traditions of their forebears in building the nation, playing leading roles in all walks of life as entrepreneurs, politicians, educators, physicians, artists, writers, philanthropists and the military.
Nor have they forgotten the land of their ancestors. American investment in Ireland plays a crucial role in the success of the economy and American philanthropists continue to contribute enormously to building a new Ireland.
Today some 40 million people are designated as American people of Irish origin. The only other larger “ethnic” group are the German Americans.
Some distinguish between the Catholic “Ulster Irish” and the Protestant “Scots-Irish” also known as the Ulster-Scots or Scotch-Irish.
