The Irish in England

A very moving clip about Irish people being forced - through unemployment and a failing economy - to leave Ireland in the 1950s and move overseas for work. The vast majority moved to Great Britain, particularly in areas like London (such as Kilburn, Cricklewood and Hackney), Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow.

As a result of this, there are over 6 million people in Great Britain (10% of the population) with *at least* an Irish grandparent. Many within that number are 100% ethnically Irish, with two Irish immigrant parents - such as musicians

*Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis
*Morrissey and Johnny Marr of The Smiths
*John Lydon of The Sex Pistols
*Boy George of Culture Club
*Kevin Rowland of Dexy's Midnight Runners
*Shane MacGowan of The Pogues
*Gary 'Mani' Mounfield of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream

Other notable people who are 100% ethnically Irish are
* Paul O'Grady, television presenter and comedian
* Steve Coogan, actor and comedian
* Dermot O'Leary - Television personality
* Martin McDonagh - Playwright and filmmaker
* Terry Eagleton - Academic and writer
* Jimmy Carr - Comedian and TV personality
* Caroline Aherne - Comedian and screenwriter

Many Irish immigrants in Great Britain were subject to discrimination, partly because of their religion - almost all were Roman Catholic, a religion whose followers the British Monarchy exclusively denies membership too, over Hindus and Muslim. It was also partly to do with a reputation the Irish had for revelry and lack of intelligence. Anti-Irish sentiment was particularly strong in the 1970s, when the Provisional IRA (Irish Republican Army) and illegal undemocratically-sanctioned terrorist group - began exploding bombs in British cities, killing many civilians. This led many ordinary British people to assume all Irish people were sympathetic to the IRA, which they were not.

This clip is taken from the documentary series 'Seven Ages', which details the first seven decades since the birth of the Irish Free State in 1921. This footage features contributions from the likes of Presidential Candidate Michael D Higgin, former President Patrick Hillary, former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Garret FitzGerald.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Irish
• emigration
• immigrants
• England
• Kilburn
• 1950s
• unemployment
• Diaspora
• Boston
• New
• York
• Seven
• Ages
• Bronx

[blunt1984]

Great upload.

Many people don't realize that even though emigration peaked during the time of the Great Hunger (mid to late 1800s), it has continued to this day.

Hopefully the economic situation of today doesn't force a new wave of young people to leave as well. (Even though it may have already.)

[padraic2001eire]

@blunt1984 It has happened, though it's not as bleak as it would have been in the 1950s. Today's young Irish people are significantly better educated than they would have been in the 1950s, and are also much more aware of world outside Ireland, partly down to waves of immigration INTO Ireland during the Celtic Tiger period. Currently I have friends - all in their twenties - living in Australia, Canada, America, Britain, Holland, Switzerland and France. Many will return home, though some won't.

[mod69]

Magowan was slightly different.He was born in kent on Christmas day while is parents were ona visit to the

uk.He grew up in ireland until he was seven and then his parents moved over to the Uk.He also spent every summer back home in tipperary

[padraic2001eire]

@mod69 He was still born and spent the majority of his life in London. There is evidence to suggest that John Lydon was actually born in Ireland, yet people don't claim him as Irish nearly as much as MacGowan.

[FreedomSaoirse]

All in all,they never done to bad...