Irish Americans in New York City

Irish Hunger Memorial in Downtown Manhattan

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.[4] Irish Americans first came to America in colonial years (pre-1776), with immigration rising in the 1820s due to poor living conditions in Ireland.[5] But the largest wave of Irish immigration came after the Great Famine in 1845.[5] The largest number of Irish immigrants came from some of Ireland's most populous counties, such as Cork, Galway, and Tipperary, surprisingly large numbers also originated in Counties Cavan, Meath, Dublin, and Laois, places not usually associated with the highest levels of emigration.[6]

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.[7]

After they came, Irish immigrants often crowded into subdivided homes, only meant for one family, and cellars, attics, and alleys all became home for some Irish immigrants.[8] In fact, New York once had more Irishmen than Dublin itself.[8] New York has long been a destination for Irish immigrants because they speak English, and there has long been a large Irish population there.[9]

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, was originally developed as a resort for wealthy Manhattanites in 1879, but instead became a family-oriented Italian- and Irish-American community.[10] Another large Irish-American community is located in Woodlawn Heights, Bronx,[9] but Woodlawn Heights also has a mix of different ethnic groups.[11] One large Irish community in Manhattan was Hell's Kitchen.[12]

Other sizable Irish-American communities include Belle Harbor and Breezy Point, both in Queens.[13][14] 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."[9]

The Irish in New York developed a particular reputation for joining the New York City Police Department as well as the New York Fire Department.

• Fordham University 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 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.
• Manhattan College A large amount of the student body, 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. The College president Brennan O'Donnell, is an Irish American.

• Helmreich, William B. (2013). The New York Nobody Knows: Walking 6000 Miles in the City. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton U. Press. ISBN 978-0-691-14405-4.

• FDNY Emerald Society
• FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums
• Fordham University
• St. John's University
• New York Irish Bars
• New York City Correction Dept. Emerald Society
• New York Irish History Roundtable
• NYPD Emerald Society
• St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
• New York Irish Center
• Woodhaven House web site, with discussion of history of Irish pubs in Queens
• Winged Fist Organization