Major Irish-American Hotspots in the U.S.


The "Big Three" - Most Irish Cities

Boston, Massachusetts

  • THE iconic Irish-American city
  • Over 20% claim Irish ancestry (highest major city percentage)
  • South Boston ("Southie") - legendary Irish neighborhood
  • Dorchester, Charlestown also heavily Irish
  • Irish political dominance for generations (Kennedys, etc.)
  • Massive St. Patrick's Day parade
  • "Irish Riviera" south shore suburbs

New York City

  • Largest Irish-American population by numbers
  • Hell's Kitchen, Woodlawn (Bronx), Bay Ridge (Brooklyn)
  • Historic Five Points immigrant gateway
  • NYPD and FDNY traditionally Irish-dominated
  • Tammany Hall political machine
  • St. Patrick's Cathedral, massive Fifth Avenue parade

Chicago

  • Third largest Irish population
  • South Side Irish neighborhoods (Beverly, Bridgeport)
  • Multiple St. Patrick's Day parades
  • Dye the Chicago River green annually
  • Irish mayors (Daley family dynasty)
  • Strong labor union Irish presence

 

Other Major Irish Cities

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Kensington, Fishtown traditionally Irish
  • Large Irish population in Northeast Philly
  • Strong Catholic parish system
  • Second Street St. Patrick's Day festivities

San Francisco, California

  • Sunset and Richmond districts
  • Strong Irish labor movement history
  • Significant police/fire Irish heritage
  • Vibrant Irish cultural scene

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Strip District, Lawrenceville Irish roots
  • Steel mill Irish workers
  • Strong Catholic Irish community

Detroit, Michigan

  • Corktown neighborhood (oldest surviving neighborhood)
  • Named after County Cork
  • Auto industry Irish workers

 

Cleveland's Place

  • Definitely a significant Irish city
  • Not "top tier" like Boston/NYC/Chicago
  • But strong, established community
  • Part of the Great Lakes Irish belt
  • Similar to Pittsburgh, Buffalo in Irish presence

 

Smaller Cities with Notable Irish Character

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

  • Coal mining Irish communities
  • Very high Irish percentage

Buffalo, New York

  • Old First Ward - Irish waterfront neighborhood
  • Great Lakes shipping Irish workers

Worcester, Massachusetts

  • "Second most Irish city" in New England
  • Strong Irish community identity

Savannah, Georgia

  • Second largest St. Patrick's Day celebration in U.S.
  • Historic Irish dockworker community

New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Irish Channel neighborhood
  • Unique Irish-Creole cultural blend

Hartford, Connecticut

  • Heavy Irish concentration
  • Insurance industry Irish presence

 

The Pattern You'll Notice

  • Northeast corridor dominates - closer to immigration ports
  • Industrial/port cities - where jobs were available
  • Coal/steel/railroad cities - Irish manual labor
  • Great Lakes region - canal and shipping work
  • Police/fire/politics - consistent Irish institutional presence

 

Why These Cities?

Arrival Points

  • Boston, New York, Philadelphia were main ports
  • Irish stayed near where ships landed

Job Availability

  • Canal construction (Erie Canal → Buffalo, Cleveland)
  • Railroad building
  • Coal mines (Pennsylvania cities)
  • Factories and mills
  • Dockwork and shipping

Chain Migration

  • County Cork → Boston pipeline
  • County Mayo → New York pattern
  • Specific Irish counties → specific American cities
  • Family/village networks pulled people to same destinations

Cleveland fits into this industrial Great Lakes belt alongside Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, and Milwaukee - all cities that needed labor for canals, railroads, steel, and manufacturing during the peak famine immigration period.

https://irishcabal.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-great-famine-how-one-catastrophe.html 

 

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