|
HOME | ABOUT | LINKS | SOCIETIES | ARTICLES | OFFICERS | MEMBERS | UPCOMING EVENTS | GALLERY | CONTACT
ARTICLES
Coming to America: the Irish Experience Imagine waking up one morning to find out the only food that was keeping your poor family alive was suddenly gone. This was the plight the Irish people had to face in 1845. The potato was the main food that the poor Irish ate. It was nutritious and easy to grow. Overdependence on the potato, however, proved disastrous when ships coming over from America brought with them a fungus that spread like a plague across Irish farmlands and devastated the potato crop. The potato crop continued to fail and thousands of people starved. This disaster, known as the Great Potato Famine, lasted until 1849 and resulted in the deaths of approximately 1 million Irish. An additional 1.5 million Irish fled the famine by leaving their homeland. By 1850, death and emigration accounted for a 2.5 million drop in Ireland’s population. The Irish were literally starved out their country and most came to America without work or a place to live, armed only with the hope of building a New Ireland, a place they could call home. The Irish were the first group to voluntarily relocate to this country on a large scale, paving the way for subsequent waves of immigration from many countries. The journey to America was not an easy one; in fact, one out of every five people died from fever on the so-called ‘coffin ships’. Those that survived the crossing found hardships and prejudices waiting for them in the ports of Charleston, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. All had hopes of building a new life for themselves and their families, but the discrimination they faced when they first arrived proved difficult to overcome. This was especially true for the Irish immigrants who arrived in New Orleans where depressed economic circumstances made it extremely difficult for the Irish to find good jobs. American employers viewed the Irish as unskilled workers and made the least desirable jobs available to them. In fact, employers did not even make slaves do the jobs the Irishmen did. If a slave died it would be a loss of property; however, if an Irishman died on the job, the employer would just get another Irishman to take his place. The Irish were so desperate to find work that they were willing to take high risk jobs which left many of these immigrant workers crippled from accidental injury. Others were forced to work in swamps, where diseases such as yellow fever, typhus, and malaria were rampant. Many died from infection and these diseases were often blamed on the Irish presence. By 1853, one out of every five people died in New Orleans and eventually 10,000 people died. Those Irish who could leave fled New Orleans to escape disease. Most traveled up north to be in a climate more like that of their homeland. A lot of the Irish who moved up north settled in areas like the north end of Boston, where many of their Irish friends and relatives lived. The Yankees, especially the merchant-ruling class, felt threatened by the increasing Irish population and began to feel that the Boston they had created was under siege. The Irish were seen by the Yankees as a stubborn people who were ruining their city. The Yankees also felt threatened by the Irish’s willingness to work for lower wages and were afraid the Irish would take their jobs away from them. In addition, native-born Protestants, wanting to hold on to their tradition, felt threatened by the Irish immigrants and sought to deny positions to those not born in America. They formed the ‘Know-Nothing’ movement: a political coalition made up of anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, and anti-Irish Americans who sought to preserve American culture. The Catholics, who were rapidly becoming a majority, were feared and despised by Protestants because they represented the possibility of change in religious authority. Even though the ‘Know-Nothing’ movement was not successful politically, it proved that the Irish in America were a growing and influential socioeconomic entity that could not be stopped. Despite many obstacles, the Irish were able to overcome discrimination and assimilate into American society, thereby proving their right to be Americans. This tested them not only physically, but mentally as well. In the coal mines, with their poor wages and dangerous conditions, the Irish learned to work together and formed unions to attain better wages. All in all, 110 unions were created by the Irish. Through the creation of unions for the coal industry, the Irish became the first group to consolidate the power of workers and check the power of employers. On the battlefield, the Irish also worked together and established a reputation for bravery and a willingness to fight for their adopted country, serving on both sides of the Civil War. In addition to demonstrating civic devotion to their newly adopted land, Irish immigrants also showed a great deal of religious devotion. The church was a place where the Irish could come together as equal citizens when others often viewed them as unskilled, violent, and drunken strangers. By 1875 there were 3,000 Irish priests in America. Schools and orphanages were attached to churches, making the church not only a place to worship and grow spiritually, but a place to learn and grow intellectually. The negative views of the Irish slowly began to fade as the church made them a respectable people. The church became known as - and still remains - the “first creation of the New Irish.” Important Irish role models began to emerge in the arenas of American politics, entertainment and business, helping to change the way people saw the Irish and how they saw themselves. Al Smith was a very successful Irish Catholic who rose in the world of politics. Growing up in the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, Smith saw the effects of poverty and yearned to live a life of success. Although he enjoyed acting, Smith chose a life in politics over one in theatre because he wanted a respectable job that would increase his stature in society. Smith saw a dire need for reform and talked about his ideas for change in political debates. His hard work led to political success and he was elected Governor of New York. Continually striving for bigger and better things, Smith ran for President of the United States of America in 1928. Although he lost that election, Smith was the first Irish Catholic nominated for president and is remembered for making the Irish a dominant force in American politics. John L. Sullivan was another successful Irishman in America. Sullivan was a great boxer who challenged America to find anyone who could beat him. This created a sense of pride for the Irish. During his fights, Sullivan would even put Irish and American colors in the ring with him to signify the Irish and Americans as a unified people, a goal the Irish fought to achieve. John L. Sullivan made ‘Irish’ something to be proud of; in fact, boxers of different ethnicities used Irish names to rise up in the boxing world. In John L. Sullivan’s last fight, he fought 75 rounds until he won, demonstrating Irish perseverance and fortitude on a grand scale. Another Irishman who served as a role model was John Mackey. Mackey came from Dublin to New York, and eventually went west to search for a home of his own. He settled in Virginia City, Nevada where he went to work as a miner. Through hard work, Mackey was promoted from a regular miner to a superintendent position. He continued to set his goals high and found the “Big Bonanza” which led him to become not only the richest man, but also the number one Irishman in Virginia City. Mackey is still remembered as an Irish role model who was able to rise out of poverty through hard work and go on to great success. In addition to Sullivan and Mackey, Marcus Daily also became a successful Irishman in America. In 1882, Daily discovered copper in Butte, Montana. Copper was difficult to mine and needed a lot of manpower. Daily asked the Irishmen from Virginia City and elsewhere to mine the copper. Butte became the most Irish place in America, and in fact, had a bigger Irish population than Dublin. Even though Daily became very successful, he never forgot his roots and treated his workers fairly. The Irish were just one of the many groups that immigrated to America with the hopes of finding something bigger and better. Like immigrants from other countries, the Irish became stereotyped and discriminated against because they brought with them the possibility and the threat of change. Even in today’s society, immigrant groups of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities struggle with discrimination while striving to become accepted as equals, just as the Irish did when they first immigrated to America. These groups that face prejudice can learn from the Irish experience of assimilating into a society. A central theme in the Irish immigrant experience is the importance of hard work and perseverance. Another lesson is the importance of holding on to one’s culture and traditions because those elements define who you are. The Irish possessed a communal will and determination that enabled them to find their own place in America’s land of opportunity despite the trials and tribulations they experienced along the way. Within several generations the Irish were able to leave an indelible impression on American culture and history through their contributions in music, religion, sports, and politics. This legacy continues today through their descendants who continue to celebrate Irish culture in America. - Christine Corless 2006 Society Essay Contest Charleston’s Luck of the Irish What do the Grace Bridge, Mayor Joe Riley, red-haired bar brawling, Hibernian Hall, and Sullivan’s Island all have in common? Quite simply, they all are the product of the Irish in the Charleston area. Although it is not necessarily common knowledge, the Irish have played a greater than average role in Charleston from its inception as one of the most prosperous cities in the colonies up until today. As I myself am one-eighth Irish — however small of a percentage that may be — I take pride in the role of the Irish in this great city of Charleston. The Irish have served an essential function in the forming of the Charleston area, whether that function is fighting in the wars, building the city with their bare hands, or leading the city. From the very beginnings of Charleston, the Irish have had their hand in on the action. Aboard the Carolina, which dropped anchor on the Charleston coast in April of 1760, was Captain Florence O’Sullivan (Williams 1). Sullivan quickly became a prominent figure in early Charleston as a deputy to one of the Lord Proprietors (Williams 1). In addition, he also “served in the Colonial Assembly and was appointed Surveyor General of the colony” (Williams 1). Although it may seem a simple role compared to his other title, O’Sullivan also was in charge of firing a cannon from an island at the entrance to the harbor as a sort of signal to ships (Williams 2). For this task, the island was thereafter named for him: Sullivan’s Island. In addition to O’Sullivan’s significant contributions, the more “spirited” side of the Irish also showed itself in the early colonies. A man by the name of Brian FitzPatrick committed “‘Charleston’s first noteworthy slaying’ in 1671 when he killed an Indian” (Williams 2). Although this may seem to demonstrate that the Irish of Charleston were the typical animated Irish Catholics we think of today, this fact is not entirely true. The Irish that immigrated to the Lowcountry during the early 1700’s were not Irish Catholics, but Irish Protestants. However, there were at least a few Irish Catholics, as we have one account of two of them being “tarred and feathered in 1775” (Williams 4). Overall, the Irish without a doubt made their presence known in the pre-Revolutionary Charleston by their great influence on early colonial government and society. Aside from the founding of the colony, the Irish continued to play a major role in its development. As most people know, the Irish harbored a deep hatred for the British, and due to this, played a major role in the Revolution on the battlefront and in the meetinghouses. During the Revolutionary War, “two of South Carolina’s most outstanding leaders, Edward and John Rutledge, were both of Irish descent” (Williams 8). Edward was one of four South Carolinian delegates to sign the Declaration of Independence, and John was President and Commander-in-Chief of South Carolina (Williams 8). John fought for the country’s independence while Edward signed the country into being. Although the war times slowed immigration, Irish began to pour into the area again after the war. This time Catholics were not excluded. Catholic persecution lessened, their religion became more tolerated, and eventually legislation was passed to allow religious freedom in Charleston. Persecution of Catholics continued, however, and it would take awhile until Irish Catholics became the norm. The Irish continued to follow in the footsteps of Edward and John Rutledge, as men such as Aedanus Burke and O’Brien Smith served the state by holding seats in Congress (Williams 11). The Irish immigration did not flourish for long and direct Irish immigration began to decline in the early 1800’s. The importance of the Irish, however, only escalated. The ceasing of the slave trade called for a new source of cheap labor, and the Irish filled that role. The hard-working, low wage Irish workers helped to construct ditches, railroads, and even Charleston itself. In fact, “the Charleston fire of 1838 created a need for Irish labor as this fire destroyed a substantial portion of the city, and laborers were needed to work on numerous rebuilding projects” (Williams 14). Over the course of the 1800’s, the Irish participated in railroad projects, projects of the Charleston Light and Gas Company, the building of the Customs House, and the rebuilding of Charleston (Williams 13, 17). Aside from practically building the city, the Irish who had recently immigrated due to famine, also played a role in the fighting of the Civil War. It is obvious that the Irish did not just leave their mark on the history of Charleston; they helped create the history of Charleston. In addition to their role in what would seem “ancient history” to teenagers such as myself, the Irish also have played a leading role in the more modern history of Charleston. From Joseph P. Grace to Joe Riley, they have contributed to the prosperity of this fair city. Mayor Joseph P. Grace, a prominent member of the Hibernian society and a Charleston mayor, put forth much effort to benefit the Irish in Charleston as well as the city. The Grace Bridge across the Cooper River was a long-standing testament to his impact on the city. Following in his footsteps, Mayor Joe Riley continues in the line of the great Irish of Charleston. He has been a noteworthy mayor to the city, leading many improvement projects and the construction of a new bridge across the Cooper River. I think it is fitting that he has played a key role in the creation of a new bridge to replace that of his Irish mayor counterpart. The role of the Irish may seem to have diminished due to society’s lessened focus on roots and heritage, but the Irish still loom today in not only the pubs, but also the houses of state government. The Irish helped found this city, helped build this city, helped rebuild this city, and help lead this city today. They have played a major role in creating the Charleston the world knows and loves. Outside of Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub, Saint Patrick’s Day is still honored by the people of this city as a testament to Charleston’s Irish heritage. The Irish, with their fiery spirit and hard work, helped construct the backbone of Charleston and Irish-Americans, such as Mayor Joe Riley, help lead it today. For Charleston, it is not the luck of the Irish, but the luck of Charleston to be graced with their presence. - Edward Ball, Bishop England High School
Works Cited Williams, Donald M. Shamrocks and Pluff Mud: A Glimpse of the Irish in the Southern City of Charleston, South Carolina. BookSurge Publishing, 2005. John England: Charleston’s First Bishop Bishop John England has the distinction of being the first Bishop of the diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. Bishop England is well known throughout South Carolina as a motivated and intelligent Irish immigrant who came to Charleston to help strengthen the Irish Catholic population. The establishment of many of the Catholic Churches and faith-filled parishes in South Carolina was due to the hard work and dedication of Bishop England. He was born in 1786 in the town of Cork, Ireland. After finishing secondary school, he entered Carlow College in Cork in the year of 1803. His interest in Catholicism started with teaching Catholic doctrine to the parishioners in his parish chapel as well as the soldiers at the garrison in Cork. Bishop England was an influential preacher who attracted many listeners and followers. He was ordained a priest in Cork in 1809. It was because of his devotion and hard work that Bishop England was named as lecturer of the Cathedral in Cork. He was very active in bonding with the people of his community. He visited the county jail on a regular basis to counsel prisoners, established a library in Shandon, a village in Saint Mary’s Parish, and he also helped to care for the patients at the Magdalen Asylum. Bishop England was made the president of Saint Mary’s College in Ireland where he taught theology as well. In 1820, a great honor was bestowed on Bishop England. He was made Bishop of Charleston, a chance that would change his life forever. With true dedication and love for his new country, Bishop England helped to restore and strengthen the faith of many of the Irish living in South Carolina. His ministry began in December 30, 1820. The states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia encompassed the new diocese that he was to be responsible for. The very small number of Catholics residing in Charleston was made up of poor Irish immigrants, San Dominican refugees and their servants. He decided to stage visitations throughout North and South Carolina as well as Georgia, anywhere he knew there were Catholics living. His determination to help the Irish immigrants was amazing; he started his visitations after being in the country for only three days. He organized the scattered bands of Catholics, took care of individual spiritual problems, designated certain select people to instruct the others on the catechism, and started the building of churches. While on his visitations, he tried to preach in government-related buildings as well as in Protestant churches to convert his listeners to Catholicism. In 1822, he created a Book Society in each of his congregations and in the same year he started the first Catholic newspaper, the “United States Catholic Miscellany.” The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy was established by Bishop England in 1830 to extend Catholic teaching to women and female slaves. This organization was eventually extended into Savannah, Georgia; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Sumter, South Carolina. Finally, after twelve years of dedicated service, there were eleven thousand Catholics living in his diocese. He had bettered the lives of thousands of people in the South, with the majority of them being of Irish heritage. With the number of Catholics steadily increasing, Bishop England desperately needed Catholic priests for the parishes. In this same year he created “The Philosophical and Classical Seminary of Charleston,” hoping to increase the number of Catholic priests in the Charleston area. He became a theological professor at his seminary and was an active member of the Philosophical Society of Charleston. He worked very hard to become an influential Bishop, thus making a huge difference in the lives of thousands who needed his support. He was very concerned with the spiritual lives and well being of others. Bishop England took great pride in ministering to the African American community. He celebrated an early Mass for them every Sunday in the Cathedral. Often, if necessary, he would neglect the afternoon sermon to the rich, white parishioners in order to preach to the poor African Americans. During his ministry, many diseases spread throughout his community. He sacrificed much of his time in order to take care of the sick. Bishop England also experienced the same intense poverty that afflicted many of many parishioners. He frequently had no money for new shoes and walked in the streets of Charleston barefooted. He did this to show his compassion for his fellow man. Bishop England had an intense dedication to his faith and to his new country. He experienced sickness on more than one occasion after being exposed to diseases at local hospitals and while suffering from extreme fatigue. Because he was so interested in expanding the knowledge of his diocese, he traveled to Europe numerous times to receive instruction, money, and books. On his return home from his last visitation in Europe, he was exposed to severe sickness. Because of his devotion to spreading Catholicism, Bishop England spent little time resting and healing. Instead, he preached seventeen straight nights in Philadelphia and four nights in Baltimore. He returned to Charleston where he passed away on April 11, 1842. His passing was greatly mourned by every member of his Catholic diocese, especially the Irish community. Bishop John England was one of the greatest leaders in the history of the Irish Catholic Church. He built his ministry around the education of women and African Americans, caring for the fatally ill and ministering to spiritual needs. He helped spread Catholicism in the South, teaching of God’s love and, above all, giving of himself for the good of all God’s children. Bishop England High School, located on Daniel Island, South Carolina, is dedicated to the profound ministry that was the life of the first Bishop of Charleston, John England. It was established in 1915 in the hope of creating parochial education in South Carolina. This hope mirrored Bishop England’s dreams and aspirations of creating an environment in which students could learn Catholic teachings and receive a good education. Bishop John England’s Irish heritage is kept alive through the school’s annual John England Day, the ‘Battling Bishop’ mascot, the use of Kelly green as the dominant color of the school, and various other homages. This high school has been successfully run for ninety- one years and continues to serve students in the Charleston area. It has been very successful in promoting and encouraging the spiritual and intellectual development of its students and in establishing a community of faith. As an Irishmen, Bishop John England is still considered to be one of the most influential religious figures in the history of South Carolina. - Eleanor Nicklas, Bishop England High School
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling As the Irish say: “Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.” This witty saying and many others would not be known in our country if the brave men and women of Ireland had not taken the treacherous journey from their homeland to a land of freedom to flee the horrific conditions of the Potato Famine. The Irish people and their ways have been a significant influence on today’s American culture, in the South and in the country as a whole. The South has not been affected as greatly as the North in terms of Irish influence. Irish immigrants came to the United States and landed primarily at Ellis Island, just off the coast of New York. That is not to say the South was not affected by Irish influence; there are many signs of Irish society in the South. South Carolina, according to Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia, is 7.9% Irish when it comes to population, or about 317,000 people. Shortly after the Potato Famine occurred in Ireland, a major event took place in America that incorporated many of the Irish immigrants: The Civil War. Though only one regiment in the Confederate Army was completely Irish, the 10th Tennessee, according to Kevin O'Beirne of “The Columbia Rifles,” there were around 40,000 Irishmen born in Ireland in the Confederate Army. Their bravery is still recognized in books such as Rebel Sons of Erin by Ed Gleeson and paintings such as an identically titled painting by Mort Kunstler. Other Irish influences can still be seen in the South such as the Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in Savannah, Georgia, that has been celebrated by the people of Savannah for over 190 years. These are only two of the many Irish influences that have morphed Southern history and culture. But the influence of Ireland stretches far beyond the Mason-Dixon line, rather it has rooted itself deeply into the heart of our culture, adding to the “melting-pot” of America. It is even present in the cereal that some children eat everyday: Lucky Charms. General Mills uses an Irish leprechaun and four leaf clovers to sell its marshmallow cereal of “hearts, stars, and horseshoes, clovers, and blue moons, pots of gold, and rainbows, and me red balloons.” Speaking of Irish stereotypes, Irish pubs are a distinct part of our culture. Where else would a drinking adult go to get a drink with friends on Saint Patrick’s Day? Where else can one dance an Irish jig and not receive strange looks? The answer of course is: Ireland. But because of the rather expensive airfare, a pub will offer an authentic Irish experience for most. “The Four Horseman,” Knute Rockne, and most recently Brady Quinn have brought legendary fame to college football’s most beloved school, Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish (coincidentally another Irish stereotype present in our culture). A well-known band (and also the second highest paid musicians in the business), U2, is from Dublin. A cow owned by a family by the name of O’Leary (purely Irish) kicked over a lantern that started the legendary Chicago Fire of 1871, which allowed Chicago to rebuild, making it one of the grandest cities in the world today. The potato, one of the most popular vegetables in America is an Irish love, though paradoxically it is the same vegetable that caused hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants to flee to America in search of new life. Some have wondered where our fixation with the potato came from. I believe it is from America’s Irish background. Irish culture has influenced America, and more specifically the South, greatly. From history, to customs, to music, to food, Ireland has helped make America the great nation that it is today. And although the American Irish were persecuted for their Catholic beliefs until the 1960’s, the traditions continued and helped drastically transform the American society. So next time you eat a potato, go to a pub, or listen to U2, think of the great nation from which it came. -Daniel Fitzgerald Tynan, Bishop England High School |
|
Entire contents Copyright © The South Carolina Irish Historical Society, unless otherwise noted, all rights reserved
|
