Irish Pride
The role of Irish nationals is an integral part of the history of New York. Because of the Great Famine, many Irish families immigrated to the United States in the 19th century, and most became city-dwellers, choosing to plant themselves, for financial reasons, on the spot where they landed. By 1850, the Irish represented 25% of New York’s population, the largest number of Irish-Americans in any city. At one point, New York had a larger Irish contingency than Dublin.
Irishmen helped to mold the character of the Big Apple. There have been eleven Irish mayors, not to mention countless writers, performers, and sportsmen, such as George M Cohan, Matthew Broderick, and Art Donovan. There were also a number of historical gangs made up of members from the Emerald Isle, such as the 19th Street Gang, the Kerryonians, and the Westies. The Irish continue to add their distinct flavor to the city with countless Irish-operated bars and one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world.
Like many other New Yorkers and New Englanders, I personally owe my existence to the Irish exodus, and I have been delighted to find echoes of my roots in every corner of Manhattan. The Irish folk tradition is alive and well, and it is not hard to find a cluster of die-hard folk enthusiasts playing Uilleann pipes or mandolins in the back room of a tavern, like in Dublin itself. I have joined them on occasion to sing a chorus of “Oro, se do bheatha bhaile” or to stomp along to a rousing reel.
To celebrate the rich history and legacy of Irish-Americans in New York, we have combed the city for hidden gems that best exude Irish pride. Though most of them, in true Irish fashion, are pubs, there are a few cultural and artistic locations that should not be overlooked. Though not on the side streets, the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side and the beautiful Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park are also excellent places to visit for a dose of Irish History. Though St. Patrick’s Day only comes once a year, Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh each and every day!
To explore more Irish pubs on the side streets, click here and be sure to check out our “Irish Pub Way” crawl!
