Irish-American is one of the most vocal ethnic groups and pride in the United States, as anyone who has seen a parade of St. Patrick’s Day knows. Over 35 million Americans (over 12% of the population) report that stocks of Ireland, a surprising number, given that the population of Ireland is just below 6 million. Irish Americans have made names for themselves in all facets of American society, from politics to arts to sports and beyond, and its history in this country since the beginning.

The first Americans Irish came to America before there was even the United States, arriving in the colonies, mainly in the service. In the 1820s, many Irish men began arriving in the U.S. to assume roles of migrant labor, such as construction of the channels that roamed the northeastern industrial areas and other labor functions. Pockets of communities in Ireland began appearing in major cities on the East Coast, including Philadelphia, Boston and New York.

But it was in the 1840s that the Irish immigration in the United States took off, thanks to the terrible famine that spread through Ireland at the time. The so-called Great Famine caused the potato crop – which served as the staple diet of Ireland at the time – to die in the land, resulting in widespread famine and disease. Many Irish took their chances with the so-called "coffin ships", taking into dilapidated ship to the United States and Canada in a desperate attempt to escape. While many died along the way, ultimately, millions of Irish came to the shores of America in the space of a few years. In 1840, nearly half of all immigrants to the United States had arrived from Ireland.

While these immigrants received a cool reception from a xenophobic America at first, eventually Irish Americans began to thrive in all facets of this country. They have a great tradition of political service, with notable examples John F. Kennedy, chairman of the House Tip O’Neill, and Al Smith, the first major party Catholic presidential candidate. The Irish are also known for his contribution to the arts, specifically the written word, with great authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eugene O’Neill playwright and short story writer Flannery O’Connor. Sports heroes of Irish descent include Patriots, Tom Brady, the legendary heavyweight champion John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, and James J. Braddock, great tennis and Jimmy Connors.

Related posts:

1. Transcript: Obama’s State of the Union
2. NRI enterprise celebrates 50 years in Dubai
3. Texas braces for fight over social studies lessons
4. John Sperling, Educator and Entrepreneur
5. A Beach Business – Entrepreneur