History of Irish Americans in Boston

People of Irish descent form the largest single ethnic group in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, making up 15.8% of the population.

History

The Irish have been in Boston since the early 18th century, when they arrived as indentured servants, merchants, sailors or tradesmen. Since Catholicism was prohibited in the Bay Colony, many Irish had to be discreet and hid their identity. But many of the early settlers were actually Presbyterians from Ulster, who began arriving in large numbers in 1718, looking to establish congregations. Many of them were sent to the outer fringes of the Bay Colony, and founded towns like Belfast, Maine, and Londonderry and Derry, New Hampshire, as well as Worcester, Massachusetts.

In the 1820s, Boston's population grew rapidly, and the city's ethnic composition changed dramatically with the first wave of European immigrants. Irish immigrants dominated the first wave of newcomers during this period, especially following the Irish Potato Famine — by 1850, about 35,000 Irish lived in Boston. Most Irish Americans were indifferent to the abolitionist movement, or supported slavery. In the latter half of the 19th century, the city saw increasing numbers of Irish settling in the city. By the end of the 19th century, Boston's core neighborhoods had become enclaves of ethnically distinct immigrants — the Irish dominated South Boston and Charlestown. Irish immigrants brought with them Roman Catholicism. Since the early 20th century, the Irish have played a major role in Boston politics — prominent figures include the Kennedys, Tip O'Neill, and John F. Fitzgerald.

Notable people

• Ben Affleck
• Casey Affleck
• Fred Allen born John Florence Sullivan
• Marcella Boveri, née O'Grady, biologist; the first woman to graduate from MIT
• Whitey Bulger
• Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys
• James Michael Curley
• Chris Evans
• Raymond Flynn
• The Kennedy family
• Stephen F. Lynch
• John W. McCormack
• Joe Moakley
• Conan O'Brien
• Julia O'Connor
• Mike O'Malley
• Tip O'Neill
• Mary Kenney O'Sullivan
• Kathleen O'Toole, the first female police commissioner of Boston
• Anne Sullivan
• John L. Sullivan
• Mark Wahlberg
• Kevin White

See also

• Boston Celtics
• South Boston

References

Bibliography

External links

• / Irish Festivals in Massachusetts
• Boston Irish Tourism Association
• Irish Heritage Trail