Irish diaspora facts for kids
Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland + 1,000,000 people + 100,000 people + 10,000 people + 1,000 people
The Irish diaspora (which means Diaspóra na nGael in Irish) is a term for people of Irish background and their families who live outside the island of Ireland.
People have been moving away from Ireland for a very long time, even since the Early Middle Ages. But we can only really count how many people left from about the year 1700 onwards. Since then, between 9 and 10 million people born in Ireland have moved to other countries.
This number is actually more than the highest population Ireland ever had, which was 8.5 million just before the Great Famine. Many of the poorest people went to Great Britain, especially to Liverpool. Those who had more money traveled further, with almost 5 million going to the United States.
After 1765, leaving Ireland became a common and well-organized event. By 1890, about 40% of all people born in Ireland were living in other countries. Today, it's thought that around 80 million people worldwide say they have some Irish family history. This includes over 36 million Americans who say their main background is Irish.
In the past, especially in the late 1800s, most Irish people who left spoke the Irish language as their first language. This had a big impact on how the language was used and shared in other countries. Even now, a small group of people outside Ireland still use the language for writing and talking.
Most people of the Irish diaspora have blended into the cultures of their new countries, especially after World War I.
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What is the Irish Diaspora?
The term "Irish diaspora" can mean different things to different people. If you think of it broadly, it includes everyone who has Irish ancestors. This could be over 100 million people! That's more than fifteen times the population of Ireland itself, which was about 6.4 million in 2011.
Some people believe that the idea of an Irish diaspora, separate from just being Irish in Ireland, came about because of how easy it became to travel globally. This meant that "Irishness" could be found in people and groups spread all over the world. However, many of these people have mixed backgrounds, making it tricky to define a single Irish line. So, "Irishness" might just mean that someone feels a connection to the Irish diaspora.
The Government of Ireland has a more specific definition. They say the Irish diaspora includes all Irish citizens who live outside the island of Ireland. This means Irish people who moved abroad and their children, who are also Irish citizens by law. It also includes their grandchildren if they were registered as Irish citizens. By this definition, the Irish diaspora is much smaller, around 3 million people. About 1.47 million of these are Irish-born people who moved away.
However, the term "Irish diaspora" is usually not limited by citizenship. This is why the estimated number of people in the diaspora can be as high as 80 million. The Irish Government recognized this wider meaning in 1998. They changed a part of the Constitution of Ireland to say that "the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage."
Still, some people of Irish descent living abroad don't like being called part of the "diaspora." They might feel that the Irish government uses this label for its own reasons.
Why Did People Leave Ireland?
Irish people, also called Gaels, have been moving around for a very long time. In ancient times, they raided and settled along the coast of Roman Britain. Some even joined the Roman army. Later, Irish monks and scholars traveled across Great Britain and Continental Europe, spreading their faith and knowledge. They might have even been the first people to live in the Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Over centuries, Irish people continued to move, especially to Britain. Today, people of Irish background are the largest minority group in both England and Scotland.
England's connection with Ireland started in 1155 when the Pope allowed Henry II to invade Ireland. This was followed by the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169.
After the Nine Years' War (1594-1603), power in Ireland shifted. Many Protestant settlers from England and Scotland arrived, taking land from the Roman Catholic landowners. This led to a lot of conflict between different religious groups in Ireland.
Roman Catholics and other Protestant groups who didn't follow the main church faced harsh laws that limited their rights. In 1801, the Irish Parliament was closed, and Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Great Famine in the 1840s caused a huge number of people to leave Ireland. Between 1841 and 1851, Ireland's population dropped by over 2 million due to deaths and people moving away, mostly to Great Britain and North America. In one area, Connacht, the population fell by almost 30%.
Some historians say that while the famine was a big reason, it wasn't the only one. Irish people had been going to Great Britain to build canals since the 1700s. Even after the famine ended, many people continued to leave. The famine might have been the final push for many to decide to move.
By 1900, Ireland's population was about half of what it was in 1840, and it kept falling in the 1900s. Even after Ireland became independent in the 1920s, people kept leaving for economic and social reasons. In the 1950s, over 500,000 people left, and in the 1980s, 450,000 more. By 2017, over 3 million Irish citizens lived outside Ireland.
Irish people who stayed in Ireland also faced unfair treatment. Many lost their homes, especially after certain laws changed in the 1840s. The death of political leader Daniel O'Connell and a failed rebellion in 1848 also crushed hopes for change. Moving to America, especially with the California Gold Rush starting in 1848, seemed like a better option for many.
Irish People Around the World
United Kingdom
Irish people have been moving to Great Britain for a very long time. The biggest waves of people came in the 1800s, especially during the terrible famine in Ireland. Thousands of Irish immigrants settled in British cities, mainly Liverpool and Glasgow. More Irish people came in the 1900s, looking for work and better lives after Ireland became independent.
Because of all this movement, millions of British citizens today have Irish family roots. One estimate suggests that as many as six million people in the United Kingdom have at least one grandparent born in Ireland. That's about 10% of the British population!
In 2001, the UK census showed that nearly 870,000 people born in Ireland were living in Great Britain. Many people in the UK have Irish ancestry, and some can even apply for Irish citizenship.
Historically, Irish people in Britain often worked in building and transport, especially as "navvies" (laborers) who built canals, roads, and railways in the 1800s. This was largely due to the Great Famine. Many Irish soldiers and sailors also settled in Britain. By the mid-1900s, Irish people had become very much a part of British society.
The largest Irish communities in Britain are found in big cities like London (especially Kilburn), Liverpool, Glasgow, and Birmingham. Some towns like Hebburn, Jarrow, and Coatbridge are even called 'Little Ireland' because so many Irish people live there.
The Roman Catholic Church was very important to Irish communities in Britain, helping them keep a strong sense of identity. Many priests in Britain are of Irish descent, and in the United States, many Church leaders have Irish roots.
In Scotland, Irish immigration was strong in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Coatbridge. This led to the creation of football clubs like Celtic Football Club in 1888, which was started to help the Irish community.
Irish people have also played a role in British politics. Several former prime ministers, like Tony Blair and John Major, have some Irish ancestry. The UK also celebrates St. Patrick's Day widely now.
The Rest of Europe
Irish connections with Europe go back many centuries. In the early Middle Ages (around 700-900 AD), many Irish religious figures traveled abroad to preach and start monasteries. For example, Saint Colmán founded a large monastery in Italy, and Saint Gall has a town and region in Switzerland named after him.
Later, in the 1600s, after wars in Ireland, many Irish nobles and their followers, known as the "Wild Geese," fled to countries like Spain, France, and Austria. They often joined the armies of these countries. Some of them became very important leaders, like Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan, who became a prime minister in Spain, or Patrice de Mac-Mahon, Duke of Magenta, who became a president in France. The famous French brandy company, Hennessy, was started by Richard Hennessy, an Irish officer in the French army.
In the 1900s, some famous Irish writers like James Joyce and Samuel Beckett lived in Europe.
Americas
Some of the first Irish people to arrive in the "New World" (the Americas) came in the 1560s with the Spanish army in Florida. Small groups also tried to start colonies in places like the Amazon and Virginia in the early 1600s.
After the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland in the mid-1600s, many Irish rebels and Catholic priests were forced to move to the English colonies in the Americas as servants. It's thought that about 50,000 Irish people moved to the New World colonies in the 1600s, and 165,000 by 1775.
Argentina
In the 1800s and early 1900s, over 38,000 Irish people moved to Argentina. They formed their own communities and schools. Today, it's estimated that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people in Argentina have Irish ancestors. This makes Argentina home to the fifth largest Irish community in the world, and the biggest in a country where English isn't the main language.
A very famous Irish person in Argentina is William Brown. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1777 and became the creator of the Argentine Navy. He led the Argentine forces in wars against Brazil and Spain.
Bermuda
Bermuda has some interesting links to Ireland. One of Bermuda's main islands was even named Ireland Island. In the mid-1600s, Irish prisoners of war and civilians were sent to Bermuda as forced laborers after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. They were made to work as servants.
These Irish people, mostly Catholic, faced difficulties with the main Anglo-Bermudian population. They often mixed with Scottish, African, and Native American communities in Bermuda. The Irish were not happy with their new lives, and laws were made to control them.
Later, in the 1800s, Irish prisoners were again sent to Bermuda. They helped build the Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island. The first Catholic church services in Bermuda were held by Irish army chaplains. A private school, Mount Saint Agnes Academy, was opened in 1890 for the children of Irish Catholic soldiers.
Today, there isn't much Irish culture left in Bermuda, but some old words and accents might show Irish influence. Bagpipes in Bermuda's music also came from Scottish and Irish soldiers.
Canada
Canada has a very large Irish community. In 2016, over 4.6 million Canadians said they had full or partial Irish ancestry, making it the fourth largest ethnic group in the country.
Many Irish people settled in Newfoundland in the late 1700s and early 1800s, mostly from County Waterford. Later, after the War of 1812, many more Irish immigrants came to other parts of Canada. Between 1825 and 1845, 60% of all immigrants to Canada were Irish.
Many people in Newfoundland are of Irish descent. It's thought that about 80% of Newfoundlanders have Irish ancestors. Their family names, the strong Catholic religion, the Irish music, and even their accents remind people of rural Ireland. Some even call Newfoundland "the most Irish place in the world outside Ireland." There was even a special dialect of the Irish language spoken there called Newfoundland Irish.
Saint John, New Brunswick, is known as Canada's most Irish city. During the Great Irish Famine, thousands of Irish people arrived there, changing the city's population. Quebec also has a large Irish community, especially in Montreal, where the Irish shamrock is on the city flag. Many Irish immigrants during the Famine passed through Grosse Isle, where many sadly died from disease.
Ontario also has over 2 million people of Irish descent. Many came in the 1820s to work on building projects and settle land.
United States
The first Irish people came to what is now the United States in the 1600s, mostly as servants. The journey of Irish immigrants to the United States is remembered in many songs, like the ballad "The Green Fields of America."
Life for Irish immigrants in the United States wasn't always easy. Many Americans didn't like the Irish because they were Roman Catholic, while most Americans were Protestant. New laws were even made to limit Irish immigration.
At first, many Irish immigrants found jobs as farmers or hard laborers. But as time went on, they sometimes competed with Americans for jobs. In the 1860s, many were recruited from the docks to fight in the American Civil War or to build the Union Pacific Railroad. Another song, "Paddy's Lamentation," describes these difficult times.
Today, Irish Americans are often seen as hard workers. They are especially linked to jobs like police officers, firefighters, and politicians in big cities on the East Coast. Over 35 million Americans say they are of Irish descent, making them the second largest ethnic group in the country after German Americans.
Large Irish American communities can be found in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, and New York City. Many cities across the country have annual St. Patrick's Day parades. The biggest one in the world is in New York City, with thousands of participants and millions of spectators.
Before the Great Famine, the Penal Laws had already caused many Irish people to leave. In 1790, about 400,000 Americans had Irish roots. Today, the US Census Bureau shows that Irish ancestry is one of the most common backgrounds reported in the United States.
Australia
Over 2 million Australians, about 10.4% of the population, said they had some Irish ancestry in the 2011 census. The Australian government thinks the real number might be closer to 7 million (30%).
Between the 1790s and 1920s, about 400,000 Irish settlers came to Australia. Many came as convicts (around 50,000 between 1791 and 1867). Even more free settlers came later, due to famine, the discovery of gold, and the growing Irish communities already there. By 1871, Irish immigrants made up a quarter of all people in Australia who were born overseas.
Irish Catholic immigrants were very important in setting up a separate Catholic school system in Australia. Today, about 20% of Australian children go to Catholic schools. Some people also believe that many words in Australian English came from the Irish language.
South Africa
Irish communities can be found in cities like Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Johannesburg. Many of the early governors, judges, and politicians in the Cape were Irish. Both the Cape Colony and the Colony of Natal had Irish prime ministers.
Some Irish settlers came to South Africa in the early 1800s. Many Irish soldiers fought in the Second Boer War (Anglo-Boer War) on both sides, and some stayed after the war. Between 1902 and 1905, about 5,000 Irish immigrants arrived. Several places in South Africa are named after Irish people, like Upington and Belfast.
New Zealand
Many Irish people also found a new home in New Zealand during the 1800s. The chance to find gold in places like Gabriel's Gully and Otago attracted many. Others came with the British army during the New Zealand wars. Women often found jobs as housemaids, helping Irish families earn money. This money then helped other family members come over.
The move to New Zealand was easier for the Irish because they were already used to British rule. The government helped by offering to pay for travel and giving land grants. Free travel was offered to women first, then to men who were promised land upon arrival. After 1874, free travel was given to any immigrant.
The Irish diaspora in New Zealand also led to less unfair treatment against Roman Catholicism compared to other British colonies. The wide-open spaces and fewer strict social rules helped reduce old tensions between different religious groups.
Countries with Many People of Irish Heritage
| Country | Population | % of country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 33,348,049 | 11% | Self-identified "Irish" (2013). Many also have Scotch-Irish roots. |
| Canada | 4,544,870 | 14% | |
| Mexico | 10,000 | 0.1% | |
| Argentina | 1,000,000 | 3% | Estimated number. |
| Chile | 120,000 | 0.7% | |
| Uruguay | 120,000 | 4% | |
| United Kingdom | 14,000,000 | 10% | 869,093 born in Ireland (2001). About 6 million have at least 25% Irish ancestry. |
| Northern Ireland | 828,220 | 45% | |
| Irish-Scots | 1,500,000 | 28% | |
| Australia | 7,000,000 | 30% | 7 million have partial Irish ancestry. 2,087,800 self-declared Irish ancestry (2011). |
| Ireland | 4,577,072 | 85% |
Religion and Identity
Religion was a major factor that made Irish immigrant communities different from others. It had the biggest impact on their identity. The challenges they faced in their new countries and their continued connections to Ireland also played a role.
In the United States, Irish immigrants faced unfair treatment because of their Catholic faith. A group called the Know Nothing Movement was formed by Protestants to oppose Catholic immigration, especially from Ireland and Germany. They wanted to limit immigration and make it harder to become a citizen. While this group didn't last long, it shows the difficulties Irish immigrants faced. Later, as Irish people settled, some of them also treated newer immigrant groups unfairly.
From the late 1900s onwards, Irish identity abroad became more about culture, rather than just religion or politics.
Famous People of the Irish Diaspora
Many famous people around the world have Irish roots! Here are just a few:
Politicians
- Joe Biden: The current (46th) American President has Irish ancestry.
- Edmund Burke: A famous politician from Dublin who was important in the British Parliament.
- James Callaghan: A former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Charles de Gaulle: A French General and President of France, who had Irish family roots.
- Chaim Herzog: Born in Belfast, he became the 6th President of Israel.
- John F. Kennedy: The 35th President of the United States, from a famous family with Irish roots from Wexford. His brothers Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy were also important politicians.
- Patrice MacMahon, duc de Magenta: The first President of the Third French Republic.
- Barack Obama: The 44th American President has Irish ancestry.
- Bernardo O'Higgins: The second leader of Chile, whose father was from County Sligo, Ireland.
- Samantha Power: An author and diplomat for the United Nations, born in Ireland.
- William Massey: Born in Limavady, he was the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Artists and Musicians
- Lucille Ball: A famous actress and comedian.
- David Bowie: A legendary singer and songwriter.
- Mariah Carey: A best-selling female singer.
- George Carlin: A very famous comedian.
- George Clooney: A well-known actor.
- Kurt Cobain: The lead singer of the band Nirvana.
- Tom Cruise: A famous actor.
- Isadora Duncan: A legendary dancer.
- Michael Flatley: A dancer and creator of Riverdance.
- Harrison Ford: A famous actor and pilot.
- Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher: Members of the band Oasis.
- Judy Garland: A famous actress and singer, known for The Wizard of Oz.
- Mel Gibson: An actor and filmmaker.
- Gene Kelly: A famous actor and dancer.
- Princess Grace of Monaco: A beautiful actress who became a princess.
- John Lydon (Johnny Rotten): The singer from the band The Sex Pistols.
- Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison: Members of The Beatles.
- Conan O'Brien: A popular television host.
- Maureen O'Hara: An Irish-born actress and Hollywood star.
- Peter O'Toole: An Academy Award-winning actor.
- Anthony Quinn: An Oscar-winning Mexican actor.
- Rihanna: A famous R&B singer from Barbados with African-Irish roots.
- Saoirse Ronan: An Irish American actress who has won awards.
- Bruce Springsteen: A famous songwriter and performer.
- John Wayne: A classic American actor.
Scientists
- Robert Boyle: A famous philosopher and chemist.
- Kathleen Lonsdale: A 20th-century chemist.
- Ernest Walton: A researcher who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1951.
- James D. Watson: One of the co-discoverers of DNA, who won a Nobel Prize.
Others
- Muhammad Ali: A legendary American boxer, whose mother's father was from County Clare, Ireland.
- Anne Boleyn: Queen to King Henry VIII of England, with an Irish grandmother.
- Molly Brown: Known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."
- Diana, Princess of Wales: A noblewoman whose mother had Irish ancestors.
- Henry Ford: The businessman who founded the Ford Motor Company.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A very important American civil rights activist.
- Ned Kelly: A famous Australian bushranger (outlaw).
- Lola Montez: An Irish-born dancer who was a mistress to King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
- Annie Moore: The first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island in the USA.
Images for kids
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The old ship Medway and the Grassy Bay anchorage in Bermuda in 1862.
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A drawing from 1848 of the Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island, Bermuda.
