Irish people in Great Britain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Irish people in Great Britain

Distribution of those who identify as "White Irish" in the 2011 census by local authority.
Total population
6,000,000 with at least 25% Irish ancestry (10% of the British population)
Regions with significant populations
Throughout Great Britain, especially Glasgow, London, West Midlands (Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Solihull), North West England (Liverpool, Birkenhead, Salford, Bootle, Manchester, Stockport, Bolton, Chester, Barrow-in-Furness, St. Helens, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Heywood, Runcorn, Widnes, Ellesmere Port, Skelmersdale), West Yorkshire (Bradford, Keighley, Dewsbury, Batley, Huddersfield), North East England (Newcastle Upon Tyne, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Jarrow, Gateshead, South Shields), Swansea, Luton, Portsmouth, Coatbridge, Edinburgh and Dundee
Languages
British English · Hiberno-English · Irish · Shelta · Scots (including Ulster-Scots) ·
Religion
Christianity Roman Catholic (majority), Protestant (minority)
Related ethnic groups
Irish people, Overseas Irish, Irish-Americans, Irish Australians, Irish New Zealanders, Ulster-Scots

Irish people in Great Britain are people from the island of Ireland who live in Great Britain, as well as their children and grandchildren born in Britain.

People have moved between Ireland and Great Britain for a very long time because the islands are so close. This movement has changed over the years due to politics, money, and social conditions in both places.

Today, millions of people in Great Britain are either from Ireland or can get an Irish passport because a parent or grandparent was born there. It's thought that about six million people in the UK have at least one Irish grandparent. That's about 10% of the UK's population!

The Irish diaspora is a term for Irish people and their families who live outside Ireland. This article focuses on those who live in Great Britain, which is the largest island in the United Kingdom.

Irish Migration Through History

Early Irish Settlers in Britain

Early Irish settlements in Britain.

After the Romans left Britain, many Irish people settled in western Britain.

For example, a group called the Déisi founded colonies in places like Gwynedd and Dyfed (now parts of Wales). Ancient stone carvings called Ogham inscriptions show the family trees of these early settlers.

It's also believed that the Gaelic language and culture came to Scotland around the 4th century. Settlers from Ireland likely founded the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata on Scotland's west coast. This led to Scotland becoming mostly Gaelic-speaking. However, in the Lowlands, the Northumbrian language (which became the basis of the Scots language) remained strong.

Irish Christians like Columba (who lived from 521 to 597 AD) helped convert the English and Pictish people to Christianity. Many other Irish saints were important in the centuries that followed.

Some English kings, like Oswiu of Northumbria, and Welsh rulers even grew up in Ireland or found safety there.

In 902 AD, some Norsemen (Vikings) who had been forced out of Ireland were allowed to settle in the Wirral Peninsula in northwest England. Old Irish records mention a group of "Irishmen" living among these Vikings. The village name Irby in Wirral means "settlement of the Irish," which supports this idea.

Irish People from the 16th to 18th Centuries

Historically, Irish immigrants were sometimes seen more often in British courts during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, studies suggest that police might have focused more on crimes that happened in public, which could have put immigrants at a disadvantage.

Many notable people born in Ireland moved to Great Britain during these centuries. These included important scientists, writers, and politicians. For example, Robert Boyle, a famous scientist, and Bram Stoker, who wrote Dracula, were both born in Ireland and lived in Britain.

Irish People in the 19th Century

The biggest wave of Irish people moving to Britain happened after the terrible Great Irish Famine in the 1840s. During this time, over a million people died in Ireland, and almost as many left the country.

More people also moved from Ireland to Britain between the 1930s and 1960s. They were escaping poor economic conditions in Ireland. Britain also needed a lot of workers during the mid-20th century, especially in construction and household jobs, and many Irish immigrants helped fill these roles.

Ireland's population dropped from over 8 million in 1841 to just 6.5 million by 1851. By the late 1800s, most people leaving Ireland were from the rural southern and western counties. Some of this movement was temporary, with seasonal workers coming to Britain for harvests and returning home for winter.

A famous Irish person who settled in Great Britain in the 19th century was the writer Oscar Wilde.

Irish People in the 20th and 21st Centuries

By the mid-1930s, many Irish people chose Great Britain when they had to leave Ireland. Britain's economy during and after World War II (1939–45) attracted many to cities like London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow. Also, ongoing sectarian violence (conflicts between different religious and political groups) in Ireland before the 2000s caused more people to move.

The 2001 UK census showed that 1.2% of people in England and Wales were born in Ireland. The Irish government estimated in 1997 that about two million Irish citizens lived in Britain. The 2001 Census also found that Irish people were more likely to have managerial or professional jobs than those called "White British."

After the Irish financial crisis around 2008, more people started leaving Ireland. In 2010, Irish emigration to Britain went up by 25%.

Irish Broadcasters and Entertainers

Many famous Irish broadcasters and comedians have moved to Britain. Sir Terry Wogan, a well-known BBC broadcaster, moved to England in 1969. Comedians Ed Byrne and Dara Ó Briain also moved to Britain and are often seen on British TV.

Black and Asian Irish Communities in Britain

Since the 1970s, some groups in the UK have used the term BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) to talk about different ethnic groups. There are many notable Irish people of color who have moved to Great Britain, including those from the black Irish community and Asian Irish people.

Irish musician Phil Lynott (from the band Thin Lizzy) settled in England. He was mixed-race with Guyanese family roots. Actor Christopher Simpson moved to London as a child; he is of Irish and Rwandan descent.

Irish footballer Darren Randolph, who is black, moved to Britain to play football. Model and actress Layla Flaherty, who has Irish and African American heritage, moved to Liverpool. Ethiopian-Irish actress Ruth Negga also moved to England and has been nominated for an Academy Award. Presenter Liz Bonnin, who has Indian, Portuguese, and French heritage, also lives in London.

Irish Footballers in Britain

Many talented Irish footballers have moved to teams in Great Britain, especially England, since after World War II. As football became more popular and richer, English clubs often looked for Irish players.

Players from Northern Ireland like George Best and Pat Jennings moved to Britain and won titles in English and Scottish football. From the Republic of Ireland, players like Johnny Giles and Liam Brady also achieved great success.

In more recent times, players like John O'Shea, Roy Keane, and Robbie Keane from the Republic of Ireland, and Steven Davis and Jonny Evans from Northern Ireland, have had long and successful careers in English and Scottish football.

How Irish People Migrated

Seasonal Workers

Before the 19th century, many Irish people moved to Britain temporarily for work. These seasonal workers, sometimes called Spalpeens, would work on farms for up to half a year. Their earnings helped support communities in Western Ireland even as late as the 1970s.

Great Famine Refugees

The Great Famine in 1845 caused a huge number of Irish people to leave their homes. Many fled to Britain to escape extreme poverty and hunger.

Irish Communities in British Cities

Irish in England

In 2001, about 674,786 people in England (1.4% of the population) were born in Ireland. This is the largest group of Irish-born people living outside Ireland anywhere in the world.

Barrow-in-Furness

During the 19th-century Famine, Barrow-in-Furness was a popular place for Irish people to go. It was easy to reach by boat from Ireland, and it was a growing town with jobs in steelworks and shipbuilding. Today, many people in Barrow have Irish family roots.

Birmingham

Birmingham has a very large Irish community, going back to the Industrial Revolution. It's thought to have the biggest Irish population per person in Britain. Digbeth is a traditional Irish area. Birmingham hosts the UK's largest St. Patrick's Day Parade and has Britain's only 'Irish Quarter' with many traditional pubs. Irish people often moved to Birmingham for jobs in construction and factories.

After the Birmingham pub bombings in 1974, community relations were difficult. However, there were very few physical attacks on Irish people. A memorial to those who died was put up in 2018.

Bolton

Many Irish people settled in Bolton in the 1950s because there wasn't much work in Ireland. They found jobs in mills and factories and encouraged other family members to join them.

Bradford

Bradford grew a lot in the 19th century because of jobs in textile mills. Many Irish people escaping the Famine moved there. It was easier to reach Yorkshire from Ireland than from some parts of England. In 1851, Bradford had the highest number of Irish-born people in Yorkshire. Many came from counties like County Mayo and County Sligo. Today, many Bradford residents have Irish family roots.

Braintree, Essex

In the 1950s, thousands of Irish people moved to Braintree, Essex to work in textile mills and factories, helping to fill job shortages.

Coventry

Coventry saw a large number of Irish immigrants from the mid-20th century when its motor industry was booming. Today, Coventry still has a higher Irish population than the UK average, and strong Irish connections.

Gateshead

In the 19th century, many towns in County Durham, including Gateshead, grew rapidly due to the Industrial Revolution. Jobs in coal mining and shipbuilding attracted people from all over the UK, including many Irish escaping the Famine. Gateshead was easy to reach from Ireland. In 1871, Gateshead had the most Irish-born people in County Durham. Today, many people in the town have Irish heritage.

Halifax

Like Bradford, Halifax was a good place for Irish Famine refugees because it was easy to reach and had many jobs in new cotton mills. The Irish helped the town's population grow a lot. Today, Irish heritage is still seen in Halifax, for example, through the town's football team, Halifax Irish F.C.

Heywood

As Heywood became a mill town during the Industrial Revolution, many Irish people, including those escaping the Famine, moved there. Many also worked as 'navvies' (laborers) on the local railway.

Jarrow

Jarrow, also in County Durham, attracted many Irish people, especially for shipbuilding jobs. The town is sometimes called 'Little Ireland' and has a large Catholic community because so many Irish people moved there.

Keighley

During the Industrial Revolution, Keighley's textile industries attracted many Irish people looking for work and escaping the Famine. This created a big Irish community. The Irish also helped establish a large Catholic community in Keighley, with Catholic churches and schools still present today.

Leeds

Leeds has an Irish community, though it's smaller than in some other big British cities. The Leeds Irish Centre is a hub for the community. After the Famine, 3.3% of Leeds's population was Irish-born, with many coming from County Mayo.

Liverpool

Liverpool is famous for its strong Irish heritage, perhaps more than any other UK city. This is because its port was very close to Ireland, making it easy for people escaping the Great Famine (1845-1849) to arrive. By 1851, over 20% of Liverpool's population was Irish. Many Irish people passed through Liverpool on their way to the United States.

Liverpool is also twinned with Dublin. Three of the Beatles had Irish family roots: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.

Liverpool has a large Irish Catholic population and a significant Orange Order membership, showing its diverse Irish connections. The city often feels a strong connection to Ireland and Europe.

London Irish

The term 'London Irish' refers to people born in London with Irish family roots. London has the biggest Irish population in Great Britain. Areas like Kilburn and Cricklewood in northwest London were known for their large Irish communities.

The Archway area also had a big Irish community, especially "navvies" who built railways and roads from the 1830s. The Whittington Hospital in Archway also recruited many nurses from Ireland after World War II.

Camden Town and Shepherd's Bush were also known for their large Irish communities. The Irish Cultural Centre is in Hammersmith.

Manchester

Manchester has long and strong Irish connections. It's estimated that about 35% of Manchester's current population has Irish family roots. In the early 1800s, Irish-born people made up over 15% of Manchester's population.

Manchester was a place where Irish Republicanism (a movement for an independent Ireland) grew. The city's residents of Irish heritage have also been very important in music. All four members of the Smiths and the Gallagher brothers from Oasis had Irish roots. Manchester holds an annual Irish Festival and a large St. Patrick's Day parade.

Middlesbrough

In the late 19th century, Middlesbrough had the second-highest percentage of Irish-born people in England after Liverpool. Many Irish workers and their families moved there for jobs in the booming steel and iron industries. Unlike some other towns, Middlesbrough's Irish community blended well with other groups. Today, many residents still have strong Irish family connections.

Sunderland

Sunderland was another County Durham city that attracted many Irish people escaping the Famine. It was a major shipbuilding town, and jobs in shipbuilding, coal mining, and chemical works encouraged many Irish to move there. Today, many people in Sunderland have Irish heritage, and the city celebrates St. Patrick's Day.

Whitehaven

Like Liverpool, Whitehaven was an easy entry point to England for Irish people, especially during the 19th-century Famine, due to its port and closeness to Ireland. Many passed through to work elsewhere, but many also stayed, and the town still has a lot of Irish heritage.

Widnes

Widnes grew quickly during the Industrial Revolution with its successful chemical industry, attracting many Irish workers. Its closeness to Liverpool also made it easy for Irish people to move there.

Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton thrived during the Industrial Revolution, especially in iron and locomotive industries, which attracted many Irish people escaping the Great Famine. The city also had a long-standing Roman Catholic community, which drew Irish people from early on.

Irish in Scotland

There have always been strong links between Scotland and Ulster (a province in Ireland). About 20% of the Scottish population has Irish family roots (either Protestant or Catholic).

The town of Coatbridge in Lanarkshire has a very high number of Catholic residents, with over 50% being Catholic. Many are descendants of Irish immigrants, especially from County Donegal. Coatbridge holds the largest St. Patrick's Day Festival in Scotland.

Many famous Scots have Irish-Catholic family roots, including actors like Sir Sean Connery and Gerard Butler, comedians like Sir Billy Connolly, and singers like Susan Boyle.

In football, teams like Celtic are mostly supported by people from a Catholic background. Rangers are seen as having a Protestant identity.

Irish in Wales

Starting in the 4th century AD, Irish raiders settled in Wales, and some Irish words even became part of the Welsh language. Many Irish immigrants came to Wales after the Famine (1845–52). They were often very poor, but they became a noticeable part of the population, especially in coal mining towns around Swansea and Newport.

A famous Welsh person with Irish-Catholic family roots is the actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Cultural Influence

Catholic Church

The large number of Irish people moving to Britain in the 19th century helped the Catholic Church in England grow again. This also helped increase tolerance for freedom of religion in the United Kingdom. Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated across Great Britain, partly because many British people have Irish family connections. Cities like Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester have big parades.

Irish Language

The Irish language has a long history in Britain. Early Gaels came to Britain and set up Irish-speaking communities in Scotland. While English became the main language for later Irish immigrants, there are still regular gatherings of Irish speakers and lessons available in many British cities today.

Sport

Sports teams linked to the Irish community exist in England, though it's not as strong as in Scotland.

Football

Clubs like Aston Villa, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Manchester United have a history of having many Irish players and supporters. For example, Arsenal has had players like Liam Brady and Niall Quinn. Aston Villa has a large Irish following in the West Midlands.

Everton is sometimes seen as Liverpool's Irish Catholic team, partly because they had many Irish international players in the 1950s. Liverpool FC was started by a prominent Orangeman, but this didn't stop Catholic people from supporting the team. Many families support both clubs.

Under manager Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United also became very popular with Irish fans and had famous Irish players like George Best and Roy Keane.

Rugby

In rugby league, Dewsbury Celtic represents the Irish community in Dewsbury. The rugby union club London Irish represents the community in London.

Gaelic Games

The British GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) organizes Gaelic games (like Gaelic football and hurling) in Britain. There are many clubs across Britain for these traditional Irish sports.

Irish Identity and Brexit

Since the Brexit vote in 2016, over 400,000 British people with Irish connections have applied for an Irish passport. This shows a growing interest in Irish identity and also in having European Union citizenship.

How Irish Immigration Was Seen

Effect on Workers' Rights

In the 1870s, a thinker named Karl Marx noted that when many Irish workers came to Britain, it sometimes caused problems for English workers. Employers could lower wages or threaten to replace English workers with Irish migrants. Marx wrote that English workers sometimes felt that Irish workers were lowering their living standards.

Crime and Poverty

In Victorian Britain, some people had negative ideas about Irish immigrants. Because many Irish people settled in large numbers, especially those who were poor, some in British society wrongly believed they were more likely to be criminals. It was a common idea that Irish migrants were a "threat to law and order."

People also thought that Irish migration in the 19th century brought disease and poverty to cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

Census Information

The table below shows the number of Irish-born residents in Great Britain over time.

2001 Census Results

The 2001 UK census was the first time British citizens could say they had an Irish ethnicity. Before this, numbers for the Irish community were based only on where people were born. In England and Wales, 1.2% of people said they were "White Irish." The highest number was in the London Borough of Brent, where 6.9% of the population identified as such. In Scotland, it was 0.98%.

The Irish have been the largest group of immigrants to Britain for over 200 years. It's estimated that as many as six million people in the UK have at least one Irish grandparent.

2011 Census Results

In 2011, the highest concentration of Irish people was still in the London Borough of Brent (4.0%). Other London boroughs like Islington and Camden also had high numbers (above 3.0%). Outside London, the city of Manchester had the highest concentration at 2.4%.

Images for kids

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  Memorial to the "Forgotten Irish" of London, Church of the Sacred Heart, Kilburn.

See also

• Anglo-Irish
• Ireland–United Kingdom relations
• Irish in Britain (charity)
• Irish military diaspora#Britain