The Irish community is one of New York City's largest ethnic groups, and has been a significant proportion of the city's population since the waves of immigration in the late 19th century.
As a result of the Great Famine in Ireland, many Irish families were forced to emigrate from the country. By 1854, between 1.5 and 2 million Irish had left their country. In the United States, most Irish became city-dwellers. With little money, many had to settle in the cities that the ships landed in. By 1850, the Irish made up a quarter of the population in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Baltimore.
Today, Boston has the largest percentage of Irish-Americans of any city in the United States, while New York City has the most Irish Americans in raw numbers.Irish American Fun Facts & Trivia During the Celtic Tiger years, when the Irish economy was booming, the city saw a buying spree of residences by native Irish as second homes or as investment property.An Irish Taste for Real Estate in Manhattan, by Patrick McHeehan, N.Y. Times, May 8, 2007 (The page number is not available; it is available on-line with registration).
History
Irish Americans (most of whom are Irish Catholic) make up approximately 5.3% of New York City's population, composing the second largest non-Hispanic white ethnic group.
Irish American Protestants Scotch-Irish Americans first came to America in colonial years (pre-1776). The largest wave of Catholic Irish immigration came after the Great Hunger in 1845 although many Catholics immigrated during the colonial period. Ronald H. Bayor and Timothy J. Meagher, eds. The New York Irish (1996) pp 12-18. Most came from some of Ireland's most populous counties, such as Cork, Galway, and Tipperary. Large numbers also originated in counties Cavan, Meath, Dublin, and Laois. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest Irish-American secret society, was formed on May 4, 1836 at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. In 1850, a group of Hibernians prevented the burning of Manhattan's St. Patrick's Old Cathedral by a mob of anti-Catholic Know Nothings.
In the Civil War, the massive anti-draft riots of 1863, one of the most deadly acts of civil unrest in New York City, represented a "civil war" inside the Irish Catholic community, according to Toby Joyce. The mostly Irish Catholic rioters confronted police, soldiers, and pro-war politicians who were often leaders of the Irish community.Toby Joyce, "The New York Draft Riots of 1863: An Irish Civil War?" History Ireland (March 2003) 11#2, pp 22-27. In the "early days", the 19th century, the Irish formed a predominant part of the European immigrant population of New York City, a "city of immigrants", which added to the city's diversity to this day. After they came, Irish immigrants often crowded into subdivided homes, only meant for one family, and cellars, attics, and alleys all became home for the poorest immigrants. As they accumulated wealth they moved into better housing. Bayor and Meagher, eds. The New York Irish (1996) pp. 88, 400-401. Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, was originally developed as a resort for wealthy Manhattanites in 1879, but instead became an upscale family-oriented Italian- and Irish-American community. Another large Irish-American community is located in Woodlawn Heights, Bronx, but Woodlawn Heights also has a mix of different ethnic groups. Conditions were slow to improve in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen.Manhattan|work=primemanhattan.com|publisher=Prime Manhattan Realty|accessdate=May 4, 2009
Other sizable Irish-American communities include Belle Harbor and Breezy Point, both in Queens. Two big Irish communities are Marine Park and neighboring Gerritsen Beach. The Irish have also settled "to a far lesser extent [in] Maspeth, Woodside, and Sunnyside, Queens."
The Irish Catholic men were successful in joining the New York City Police Department (NYPD) as well as the New York Fire Department (FDNY). Religious women became nuns teaching in parochial schools; others became public school teachers. In the neighborhoods, the Irish organized to again control over territory, jobs, and political organizations. As the "new immigrants" from Southern and Eastern Europe arrived 1880s-1914, the Irish incorporating them into their established system. It was a process of "Americanization." The Irish dominated the Catholic Church as bishops, priests, pastors and nuns.Thomas Shelley, " 'Only One Class of People to Draw Upon for Support': Irish-Americans and the Archdiocese of New York." American Catholic Studies (2001): 1-21. The Church worked hard to keep Catholicism strong among the new arrivals, opening parish schools and high schools. James R. Barrett, and David R. Roediger, "The Irish and the 'Americanization' of the 'New Immigrants' in the Streets and in the Churches of the Urban United States, 1900-1930." Journal of American Ethnic History 24.4 (2005): 3-33, focus on New YHork and Chicago. After 1945, a large-scale movement to the suburbs was made possible by the steady upward social mobility of the Irish.Morton D. Winsberg, "The Suburbanization of the Irish in Boston, Chicago and New-York." Eire-Ireland 21.3 (1986): 90-104.
In the 20th century, the Irish-American proportion of first responders in New York grew so large that a nationwide stereotype began to form of Irish-Americans as police officers and firemen. Pipe bands have continued to play at funerals for police officers regardless of ethnicity into the 21st century. On September 11, 2001, 40% of the 343 firefighters who died had Irish ancestry. According to George Pataki, NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik told Brian Cowen during a visit to Ground Zero that 200 claddagh rings had been recovered from the site.
Irish colleges and universities Fordham University was founded by Archbishop John Hughes an Irish immigrant, and built by Irish labor. Most of the Jesuits are Irish-Americans and Irish Americans make up a sizeable amount of the student body. The University president Rev. Joseph McShane, SJ is an Irish American.
St. John's University was founded by Bishop John Laughlin an Irish immigrant aiming to educate Irish and other immigrants in a strong Catholic atmosphere. Almost every president of the University has been an Irish American, and many of the Vincentian priests that run the University are Irish as well as lay staff and professors. The University president Rev. Brian Shanley, OP is an Irish American.
At Manhattan University, many of the students, staff and professors are Irish American. Its athletic teams are named the Jaspers, in honor of Brother Jasper of Mary, an Irish immigrant, administrator at the school and inventor of the seventh inning stretch.
Irish neighborhoods
Current Woodlawn, BronxA bit o' the Irish brogue: Woodlawn: An Irish enclave in the far reaches of the Bronx, by Patrick Ward, amNY, February 8, 2007, at pp. 34, 36, 38; see also at .Answer.com page on WoodlawnIrish restaurants in N. Riverdale North Riverdale, BronxNY Times article, requires registration City Island, Bronx Pelham Bay, Bronx Throggs Neck, Bronx Bay Ridge, Brooklyn"Top 7 Brooklyn Irish Pubs and Bars", by Wendy Zarganis, About:New York:Brooklyn web site Blog: "A Shamrock Grows in Brooklyn"Henry Grattan's Pub web site Gerritsen Beach, BrooklynCongressman' s site Answers.com Marine Park, BrooklynIrish dance group Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn Vinegar Hill, BrooklynForgotten NY web site"If You're Thinking of Living in Vinegar Hill...", by Dulcie Leimbach, N.Y. Times, August 31, 2003 on line. Broad Channel, Queens Belle Harbor, Queens Breezy Point, Queens Rockaway Park, Queens Rockaway Beach, Queens Sunnyside, QueensEllen Freudenheim, Queens: What to do, where to go (and how not to get lost) in New York's Undiscovered Borough, pp. 15-16 (Woodside), 262-265 (Rockaways), 267-275 (Sunnyside), 277-287 (Woodside). (St. Martin's NY 2006) . Maspeth, Queens Woodside, Queens (p. 414) St. George, Staten IslandStaten Is. Cultural web site Staten Island Irish Fair web site West Brighton, Staten Island Randall Manor, Staten Island
Historic Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn Five Points/Lower East Side, Manhattan Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan East Harlem, Manhattan Mott Haven, Bronx Inwood, Manhattan University Heights, Bronx Kingsbridge, Bronx Bainbridge, BronxInformation on Norwood, a.k.a. Bainbridge:Answers.com page on NorwoodSt. Barnabas' Parish web site Bedford Park, Bronx Fordham, Bronx Astoria, Queens Woodhaven, QueensDiana Shaman, If You're Thinking of Living In /Woodhaven, Queens; Diversity in a Cohesive Community, New York Times September 20, 1998, found at NY Times article on the diversity of Rego Park including Irish-Americans. Accessed November 8, 2007. Parkchester, Bronx Westchester Square, Bronx
Notable Irish New Yorkers
Irish mayors David Mathews James Duane William Jay Gaynor Thomas F. Gilroy, Irish-born William R. Grace, Irish-born Hugh J. Grant John F. Hylan John Purroy Mitchel John P. O'Brien William O'Dwyer, Irish-born Jimmy Walker Robert F. Wagner Jr. – his mother was from Cork
Irish Bishops of the Archdiocese of New York R. Luke Concanen, Irish-born John Connolly, Irish-born Terence Cooke Michael Corrigan Timothy Dolan Edward Egan John Farley, Irish-born Patrick Hayes John Joseph Hughes, Irish-born John McCloskey John Joseph O'Connor Francis Spellman
Irish Bishops of the Diocese of Brooklyn John Loughlin, Irish-born Charles Edward McDonnell Thomas Edmund Molloy Bryan Joseph McEntegart Robert J. Brennan
Notable Irish New Yorkers James L. Buckley, U.S. senator, federal judge William F. Buckley Jr., writer, editor of National Review William F. Buckley Sr., oil baron Edward Burns, actor, writer, director Joseph Brennan, basketball player Jimmy Breslin, former New York Daily News and Newsday writer Robert De Niro, actor Matthew Broderick, actor Jimmy Burke, gangster James Cagney, actor Hugh Carey, Governor of New York George Carlin, comedian William Bourke Cockran, congressman and noted Tammany Hall orator George M Cohan, entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer Mad Dog Coll, gangster Margaret Colin. actress James B. Comey, Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Jennifer Connelly, actress, model, Academy Award winner Kevin Connors, ESPN sportscaster James Coonan, gangster Gerry Cooney, boxer Bob Costas, sports broadcaster, television personality Kevin Corrigan, actor Charles Dolan, billionaire, owner of Cablevision, Madison Square Garden & Knicks James Dolan, billionaire, owner of New York Rangers & Radio City Music Hall William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League Art Donovan, football player Charles J. Dougherty, president of Duquesne University Francis Patrick Duffy, priest, Lieutenant Colonel and chaplain of 69th Infantry Regiment (New York) Mike Dunleavy Sr., basketball player, National Basketball Association head coach Bill Dwyer, gangster Mickey Featherstone, gangster Patrick Fitzgerald, United States Attorney Bobby Flay, chef, television host, restaurateur Mel Gibson, Actor, and Film director Charles V. Glasco, New York City Police Sergeant, most well known for his efforts to rescue John William Warde Jackie Gleason, comedian Pete Hamill, writer, editor in chief of New York Daily News & New York Post Henry Hill, gangster Charles J. Hynes District Attorney for Kings County Mychal F. Judge, OFM, priest and Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York George W. Keller, architect Raymond W. Kelly, New York Police Department Commissioner Caroline Kennedy, author, attorney, daughter of President John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy Jr., son of John F. Kennedy, magazine editor George Kennedy, actor Owney Madden, gangster Michael Malloy, also known as Mike the Durable and Iron Mike, known for being "unkilliable" Dennis Hart Mahan, professor of military theory and engineering at West Point