History of the Irish Americans in Philadelphia
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Philadelphia has a historical Irish American population.
Philadelphia has the second largest Irish American population in the country, and is the largest ethnic group in the city, making up 14.2% of the population.[1]
Irish had lived in Philadelphia since the pre-American Revolution period. Irishmen had participated in pro-Revolutionary activities in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War.[2]
Philadelphia's Saint Patrick's Day parade is the second oldest in the United States.[3]
The first major influx of Irish came in 1844 from rural areas, spurred by the Irish Famine. Philadelphia at the time had a need for industrial labor,[4] and at the time Philadelphia was becoming a major industrial center in the United States.[5] Irish took industrial positions. Nativist groups opposed the influx of the Irish. The Irish gained financial and social status in the 19th Century and founded institutions during the period. Irish institutions included hospitals, associations, and schools.[4]
Institutions
The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick was founded in 1771.[4]
Several associations were formed in the 19th Century. The first mutual aid groups to support individual counties were those for County Donegal and County Mayo, and others were subsequently formed. The Total Abstinence Brotherhood was founded to promote Catholic-based morality and an abstinence from alcohol. The Clan na Gael and the Fenian Brotherhood were formed to support Ireland-based nationalist groups.[4] Some groups had Philadelphia-based chapters with their own meeting halls. They included the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, The Irish Catholic Benevolent Union, and the Irish League.[6]
During the 20th Century the Irish Center/Commodore Barry Club and the Irish American Club raised funds for Irish-related causes through meetings.[7]
Media
18 Irish newspapers had been established since the 1800s. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia newspaper, the Catholic Standard and Times, has covered news related to Irish affairs. It was founded in 1866.[7]
Irish radio broadcasts appeared during the 20th Century. From March 17, 1926 the Irish Hour by Patrick Stanton operated over the radio airwaves, playing Irish music and news broadcasts. Stanton later acquired WJMJ, which played Irish music.[7]
Education
In Philadelphia, the Irish founded La Salle University, Saint Joseph's University, and Villanova University.[4]
Crime
The K&A Gang is of Irish origins.
Irish neighborhoods
- Areas of North Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia - Historically one of the largest Irish American neighborhoods in the country
- Fishtown, Philadelphia
- Kensington, Philadelphia
- Areas of West Kensington, Philadelphia
- Mayfair, Philadelphia
- Bridesburg, Philadelphia
- Port Richmond, Philadelphia
- Frankford, Philadelphia
- Juniata, Philadelphia
- Harrowgate, Philadelphia
- Holmesburg, Philadelphia
- Oxford Circle, Philadelphia
- Tacony, Philadelphia
- South Philadelphia
- Areas of Southwest Philadelphia
Notable individuals
- Mathew Carey[8]
- Lynne Abraham
- Kevin Bacon
- Michael Bacon
- Samuel Barber
- Brendan F. Boyle
- Kevin J. Boyle
- Peter Boyle
- John Barry
- Ethel Barrymore
- John Barrymore
- Lionel Barrymore
- Georgiana Drew Barrymore
- Bob Brady
- Joseph Breen
- Jim Callahan
- Edward White Clark
- Joseph S. Clark, Sr.
- Joseph S. Clark, Jr. (Mayor of Philadelphia)
- Imogene Coca
- Jocko Collins
- Michael Connelly
- Bobby Convey
- Bradley Cooper
- Richard Costello
- Stephen Costello
- Joey Coyle
- Edward Peter Cullen
- Cass Daley
- Kim Delaney
- Jack "Legs" Diamond
- Tim Donaghy
- Brian Dougherty
- Charles Dougherty
- Johnny Dougherty
- John Drew, Jr.
- Aaron Dugan
- Tom Dugan
- Fran Dunphy
- Daniel Faulkner
- Jocko Fields
- W. C. Fields
- Mike Fitzpatrick
- Kate Flannery
- John Patrick Foley
- Elizabeth Gallagher
- Franklin B. Gowen
- John Joseph Graham
- William J. Green, Jr.
- William J. Green, III (Mayor of Philadelphia)
- William J. Green IV
- Jimmy Haggerty
- Alexander Haig
- Charles Hallahan
- William Harnett
- Edward "Babe" Heffron
- Bobby Henon
- Edward Hughes
- John Joseph Hughes
- William F. Keller
- Dorothy Kelly
- George Kelly
- Grace Kelly
- Jack Kelly
- John B. Kelly Jr.
- John B. Kelly Sr.
- Walt Kelly
- Jamie Kennedy
- Jim Kenney (Mayor of Philadelphia)
- Joe Kerrigan
- Bucko Kilroy
- James A. Finnegan
- James V. Lafferty
- James Logan
- Jim Lynam
- Jeanette MacDonald
- Connie Mack III
- Robert P. Maginnis
- Fergy Malone
- Chris Matthews
- Jim Matthews
- Bob McAllister
- Francis J. McCabe
- Fran McCaffery
- Seamus McCaffery
- Jay McCarroll
- Paul McCrane
- Page McConnell
- Joseph Carroll McCormick
- John Joseph McCort
- John McDermott
- Gerald Vincent McDevitt
- Maje McDonnell
- Joseph McGarrity
- Mike McGeary
- Michael McGeehan
- Kathleen McGinty
- James P. McGranery
- Rob McElhenney
- Joseph P. McFadden
- Jim McGorman
- Connie McHugh
- Henry Plumer McIlhenny
- John J. McIntyre
- Jim McKay
- Chris McKendry
- Joseph McKenna
- Benny McLaughlin
- Joseph McLaughlin
- Brandon McManus
- Art McNally
- Bob McNeill
- James McNulty (Irish activist)
- Pat Meehan
- Shannon Meehan
- Chris Mooney
- Alecia Beth "Pink" Moore
- St. Clair Augustine Mulholland
- Patrick Murphy
- Jim Murray
- Denny O'Brien
- Jim O'Brien
- Michael H. O'Brien
- Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
- John Joseph O'Connor
- Jake O'Donnell
- Jack O'Halloran
- Fran O'Hanlon
- Danny O'Leary
- Brian J. O'Neill
- Dennis Patrick
- Patrick Quinn
- Danny Rapp
- Frank Reagan
- Tom Rooney
- Bianca Ryan
- Matt Ryan
- Matthew J. Ryan
- Frank Sheeran
- Michael J. Stack
- Michael J. Stack III
- James Tate (Mayor of Philadelphia)
- Charles Thomson
- Brian Tierney
- Frank Tinney
- William Wrigley, Jr.
- James R. Young
See also
- Demographics of Philadelphia
- Northeast Philadelphia
- Friendly Sons of St. Patrick
- Green Fields of America
- Acme Markets
Notes
- ↑ Trulia (15 March 2013). "America's Most Irish Towns". Forbes. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ↑ Clark, p. 9.
- ↑ "Philadelphia's St. Patrick's Day Parade". The St. Patrick's Day Observance Association. Retrieved 2006-09-23.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Poxon, p. 9.
- ↑ Clark, p. 31.
- ↑ Poxon, p. 9-10.
- 1 2 3 Poxon, p. 10.
- ↑ Clark, p. 11.
References
- Clark, Dennis. The Irish in Philadelphia: Ten Generations of Urban Experience. Temple University Press, 1981. ISBN 0877222274, 9780877222279.
- Poxon, Marita Krivda. Irish Philadelphia. Arcadia Publishing, January 28, 2013. ISBN 0738597708, 9780738597706.
Further reading
- Clark, Dennis. The Irish Relations: Trials of an Immigrant Tradition. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1982. ISBN 0838630839, 9780838630839.
External links
- Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick
- Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums
- Irish Society of Philadelphia
- Second Street Irish Society
- Philadelphia Emerald Society
- Commodore John Barry, USN The Irish Center