Coatbridge Irish
Encyclopedia
Coatbridge
is an urban town located on the eastern fringes of Glasgow
, Scotland
. The town quickly expanded during the late 18th century as a centre of iron making, in part because it had a direct canal link to Glasgow. Cheap unskilled labour was in large demand and as result the town became a popular destination for vast numbers of Irish
arriving in Scotland during this period. One local historian estimates that 1,000 per week were arriving in west of Scotland at one point. Coatbridge today is well known as a working class
town which has been described as "little Ireland
".
strife was a feature of the 19th century Coatbridge. In 1857 there were reports of riots between local Catholics and Protestants. The New York Times reported on serious "riots" between local Catholics and Orangemen
which occurred during 1883.
According to James Handley, by 1901, the percentage of Irish born in Coatbridge had fallen to around 15%, but remained the highest of all the major towns in Scotland. Handley's figures excluded the offspring of Irish-born migrants and Handley argues that taking into consideration the culturally higher birth rates of Irish Catholic
families at this time the true figure of Irish population in Coatbridge at this time was in fact much greater.
In the late 19th century the largest and most generous Irish Home Rule
organization in Britain
was found in Coatbridge.
19th century writers Andrew Miller
and the Coatbridge poet Janet Hamilton
both refer to the Irish in Coatbridge. Modern day writer Des Dillon
also writes at length about the descendants of the 19th century Irish immigrants in present day Coatbridge.
The formation of Whifflet Shamrock in 1888 suggests an attempt to set up a team to represent the Coatbridge Irish community. The now deceased Patrick Sarsfield hurling
club was set up in 1902 with the Éire Óg club conceived a few years later. Éire Óg went on to win the league title in 1909. Owen Roe O'Neill
Gaelic Football
Club was founded in the town in 1912.
In 1919 three branches of Sinn Féin were in existence. There was also a Gaelic League branch (Canon O'Keefe branch) in the town in 1901. In the 1950 general election
the Irish Anti-Partition League put up a candidate in the constituency covering Coatbridge. There is also quite a large Orange heritage in Coatbridge with Men's and Women's Lodges and various flute bands including Lily Of The Valley and Prince of Orange.
General estimates that at least 60% of the population of Coatbridge have Irish Catholic backgrounds are based upon census figures, factors such as high number of Catholic church parishes in the town (nine) and the fact that there are currently two Catholic secondary schools and one 'non-denominational' school. Religious statistics gathered in the 2001 census are not available on the census website due to 'risk' and the statistics being deemed 'sensitive data', but Catholicism
was recorded at just over 50%.
In 2006, Coatbridge (along with Port Glasgow
and Clydebank
) was voted 'the least Scottish town in Scotland' due to having the highest percentage of Irish names in the country. Reportedly more than 28% of adults in Coatbridge
had names with Irish origins, ironically the most Scottish
place in Scotland, Barra
, is the most Catholic
place in Scotland
as well.
) and visits from members of the Irish government such as president Mary McAleese
. On her last visit Mary McAleese described Coatbridge as the 'heart of Ireland in Scotland'. Currently there are four Irish dance schools in the area, regular Irish classes, a Gaelic football team (Sands MacSwiney, formed 1986) and an Irish Genealogy Project. St Patrick's Chapel is situated on the main street of Coatbridge and forms a hub of Irish activity in town hosting regular Irish quiz nights and shows of Irish themed films.
In 2006, Coatbridge (along with Port Glasgow
and Clydebank
) was voted 'the least Scottish town in Scotland' due to having the highest percentage of Irish names in the country. More than 28% of adults in Coatbridge had names with Irish origins incidentally, Barra
, the most Scottish place in Scotland is overwhelmingly Catholic compared to Coatbridge's slight majority.
In 2008 Coatbridge was subject of an hour-long RTE
documentary regarding the Irish culture of the town.
Perhaps the most obvious link with between Coatbridge and Ireland are the numerous Celtic F.C.
supporters' clubs operating in the area. Phil Coles Celtic supporters club holds a legendary place in the folklore of Coatbridge Celtic supporters. Coatbridge is noted as a particular hotbed of Celtic Support. A number of locals have also played professionally for the club including Gerry Creaney
, Peter Grant
, Peter McNamee
and European cup medal winner, John 'Yogi' Hughes
.
Festival in Coatbridge commenced in 2003 with a single event and has run every year since. The festival has grown and by 2007 it included an art exhibition, thearte, sports, music, film, street festival and dance events. The festival now runs for 10 days and each year the day-long Saturday street-party in Main Street with Irish music and Irish dancing is the festival highlight. In 2006 9,000 people took part in the festival.
Guinness
Diageo
and the Irish government
both sponsor the event. Irish President Mary McAleese
visited Coatbridge in 2007. In 2006 Des Dillon
's anti-sectrian play "Singin' I'm no a Billy he's a Tim" was performed at St. Bartholomew's Church hall.
wrote about the notion of a separate Coatbridge accent influenced by the successive waves of Irish immigrants into the town. The Coatbridge accent has been categorised as generally less usage of the Scots tongue and the tendency to stress the 'a' vowel differently, e.g. stair (sterr), hair (herr), fair (ferr) etc. and this is attributed to the impact of successive influxes of Irish immigrants. Another notable language trait practised commonly in Coatbridge is the use of the 'reaffirmative' after a sentence, e.g. "I need to go up the street tomorrow so I do," or "Tommy Tango's is always open so it is". This use of the re-affirmative is still extremely common in Northern Ireland.
(1893–1971) who was a Coatbridge teacher who fought in the Irish 1916 Easter Rising
acting variously as scout and sniper before being wounded in action. She went on to become paymaster general of the Irish Republican Army
. Dr. Charles O'Neill from Coatbridge represented South Armagh as the member of parliament.. Eddie McAteer
who was born in Coatbridge was perhaps the most important nationalist political figure in pre-troubles Northern Ireland. Danny Hegan
, born in Coatbridge, played international football for Northern Ireland.
Coatbridge
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. The town, with neighbouring Airdrie, is part of the Greater Glasgow urban area. The first settlement of the area stretches back to the Stone Age era...
is an urban town located on the eastern fringes of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The town quickly expanded during the late 18th century as a centre of iron making, in part because it had a direct canal link to Glasgow. Cheap unskilled labour was in large demand and as result the town became a popular destination for vast numbers of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
arriving in Scotland during this period. One local historian estimates that 1,000 per week were arriving in west of Scotland at one point. Coatbridge today is well known as a working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
town which has been described as "little Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
".
History of the Irish community in Coatbridge
The Irish first began arriving in Coatbridge in the early 19th century. During this period there was great tension between the new immigrants and the native miners.. The 1851 census notes that the Irish born population in Coatbridge made up a total of 35.8% of the population. However it should be acknowledged that a significant proportion of these emigrants would have been Protestant. SectarianSectarianism
Sectarianism, according to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement.The ideological...
strife was a feature of the 19th century Coatbridge. In 1857 there were reports of riots between local Catholics and Protestants. The New York Times reported on serious "riots" between local Catholics and Orangemen
Orangemen
Orangemen can refer:*Historically, to supporters of King William III of Orange.*To members of the modern Orange Institution - a Protestant fraternal organisation.*To the former name of male sports teams of Syracuse University, now called the Orange....
which occurred during 1883.
According to James Handley, by 1901, the percentage of Irish born in Coatbridge had fallen to around 15%, but remained the highest of all the major towns in Scotland. Handley's figures excluded the offspring of Irish-born migrants and Handley argues that taking into consideration the culturally higher birth rates of Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic is a term used to describe people who are both Roman Catholic and Irish .Note: the term is not used to describe a variant of Catholicism. More particularly, it is not a separate creed or sect in the sense that "Anglo-Catholic", "Old Catholic", "Eastern Orthodox Catholic" might be...
families at this time the true figure of Irish population in Coatbridge at this time was in fact much greater.
In the late 19th century the largest and most generous Irish Home Rule
Irish Home Rule Movement
The Irish Home Rule Movement articulated a longstanding Irish desire for the repeal of the Act of Union of 1800 by a demand for self-government within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The movement drew upon a legacy of patriotic thought that dated back at least to the late 17th...
organization in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
was found in Coatbridge.
19th century writers Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller
-Sports:* Andrew Miller , pitcher for the Boston Red Sox* Andrew Miller , cricketer for Oxford University and Middlesex* Andrew Miller , Canadian professional ice hockey player...
and the Coatbridge poet Janet Hamilton
Janet Hamilton
Janet Hamilton was a nineteenth century Scottish poet.She was born as Janet Thomson at Carshill, Shotts parish, Lanarkshire in 1795, the daughter of a shoemaker. During her childhood the family moved to Hamilton, and then to Langloan, in the parish of Old Monkland, Lanarkshire...
both refer to the Irish in Coatbridge. Modern day writer Des Dillon
Des Dillon
Des Dillon is an internationally acclaimed award-winning writer. He was born in Coatbridge and studied English Literature at Strathclyde University before becoming a teacher. He was Writer-in-Residence at Castlemilk from 1998-2000. He is a poet, short story writer, novelist, dramatist, broadcaster,...
also writes at length about the descendants of the 19th century Irish immigrants in present day Coatbridge.
The formation of Whifflet Shamrock in 1888 suggests an attempt to set up a team to represent the Coatbridge Irish community. The now deceased Patrick Sarsfield hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
club was set up in 1902 with the Éire Óg club conceived a few years later. Éire Óg went on to win the league title in 1909. Owen Roe O'Neill
Owen Roe O'Neill
Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill , anglicised as Owen Roe O'Neill , was a seventeenth century soldier and one of the most famous of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster.- In Spanish service :...
Gaelic Football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
Club was founded in the town in 1912.
In 1919 three branches of Sinn Féin were in existence. There was also a Gaelic League branch (Canon O'Keefe branch) in the town in 1901. In the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
the Irish Anti-Partition League put up a candidate in the constituency covering Coatbridge. There is also quite a large Orange heritage in Coatbridge with Men's and Women's Lodges and various flute bands including Lily Of The Valley and Prince of Orange.
General estimates that at least 60% of the population of Coatbridge have Irish Catholic backgrounds are based upon census figures, factors such as high number of Catholic church parishes in the town (nine) and the fact that there are currently two Catholic secondary schools and one 'non-denominational' school. Religious statistics gathered in the 2001 census are not available on the census website due to 'risk' and the statistics being deemed 'sensitive data', but Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
was recorded at just over 50%.
In 2006, Coatbridge (along with Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
and Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
) was voted 'the least Scottish town in Scotland' due to having the highest percentage of Irish names in the country. Reportedly more than 28% of adults in Coatbridge
Coatbridge
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. The town, with neighbouring Airdrie, is part of the Greater Glasgow urban area. The first settlement of the area stretches back to the Stone Age era...
had names with Irish origins, ironically the most Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
place in Scotland, Barra
Barra
The island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.-Geography:The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078...
, is the most Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
place in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as well.
Current Irish immigration to Coatbridge
The 2001 census recorded that currently less than 1% of the population of Coatbridge are Irish-born.Current culture and sport
The Irish in Coatbridge have been a significant influence on the town's social, political and cultural life. In recent years there has been increased interest in the Irish cultural heritage of the town. Evidence of this can be seen in the St. Patrick's 10 day long festival (sponsored by the Irish governmentIrish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
) and visits from members of the Irish government such as president Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
. On her last visit Mary McAleese described Coatbridge as the 'heart of Ireland in Scotland'. Currently there are four Irish dance schools in the area, regular Irish classes, a Gaelic football team (Sands MacSwiney, formed 1986) and an Irish Genealogy Project. St Patrick's Chapel is situated on the main street of Coatbridge and forms a hub of Irish activity in town hosting regular Irish quiz nights and shows of Irish themed films.
In 2006, Coatbridge (along with Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
and Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
) was voted 'the least Scottish town in Scotland' due to having the highest percentage of Irish names in the country. More than 28% of adults in Coatbridge had names with Irish origins incidentally, Barra
Barra
The island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.-Geography:The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078...
, the most Scottish place in Scotland is overwhelmingly Catholic compared to Coatbridge's slight majority.
In 2008 Coatbridge was subject of an hour-long RTE
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
documentary regarding the Irish culture of the town.
Perhaps the most obvious link with between Coatbridge and Ireland are the numerous Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
supporters' clubs operating in the area. Phil Coles Celtic supporters club holds a legendary place in the folklore of Coatbridge Celtic supporters. Coatbridge is noted as a particular hotbed of Celtic Support. A number of locals have also played professionally for the club including Gerry Creaney
Gerry Creaney
Gerard 'Gerry' Creaney is a Scottish former footballer who played as a striker.-Career:Creaney began his career with Celtic, signing from the boys club and making his debut in the first team in 1989. He played 113 times for the club, scoring 36 goals...
, Peter Grant
Peter Grant (footballer)
Peter Grant is a Scottish former footballer and was, until October 2007, manager of Norwich City. This was Grant's first role in management, but he had previously held coaching jobs at Bournemouth, West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion...
, Peter McNamee
Peter McNamee
Peter McNamee is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He played 175 games in the World Hockey Association with the Vancouver Blazers, Phoenix Roadrunners, and San Diego Mariners.-External links:*...
and European cup medal winner, John 'Yogi' Hughes
John 'Yogi' Hughes
John 'Yogi' Hughes is a Scottish former football player with Celtic, Crystal Palace and Sunderland. Hughes was nicknamed 'Yogi', derived from the popular cartoon character Yogi Bear...
.
St. Patrick's Day festival
The Saint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
Festival in Coatbridge commenced in 2003 with a single event and has run every year since. The festival has grown and by 2007 it included an art exhibition, thearte, sports, music, film, street festival and dance events. The festival now runs for 10 days and each year the day-long Saturday street-party in Main Street with Irish music and Irish dancing is the festival highlight. In 2006 9,000 people took part in the festival.
Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
and the Irish government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
both sponsor the event. Irish President Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
visited Coatbridge in 2007. In 2006 Des Dillon
Des Dillon
Des Dillon is an internationally acclaimed award-winning writer. He was born in Coatbridge and studied English Literature at Strathclyde University before becoming a teacher. He was Writer-in-Residence at Castlemilk from 1998-2000. He is a poet, short story writer, novelist, dramatist, broadcaster,...
's anti-sectrian play "Singin' I'm no a Billy he's a Tim" was performed at St. Bartholomew's Church hall.
Coatbridge accent
In 'Celtic minded' Des DillonDes Dillon
Des Dillon is an internationally acclaimed award-winning writer. He was born in Coatbridge and studied English Literature at Strathclyde University before becoming a teacher. He was Writer-in-Residence at Castlemilk from 1998-2000. He is a poet, short story writer, novelist, dramatist, broadcaster,...
wrote about the notion of a separate Coatbridge accent influenced by the successive waves of Irish immigrants into the town. The Coatbridge accent has been categorised as generally less usage of the Scots tongue and the tendency to stress the 'a' vowel differently, e.g. stair (sterr), hair (herr), fair (ferr) etc. and this is attributed to the impact of successive influxes of Irish immigrants. Another notable language trait practised commonly in Coatbridge is the use of the 'reaffirmative' after a sentence, e.g. "I need to go up the street tomorrow so I do," or "Tommy Tango's is always open so it is". This use of the re-affirmative is still extremely common in Northern Ireland.
Notable people
Notable residents representing the links between Ireland and Coatbridge have included Margaret SkinniderMargaret Skinnider
Margaret Skinnider was a revolutionary and feminist born in Coatbridge, Scotland. She fought during the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. Her part in the Easter Rising was all the more notable because she was a woman, a sniper and the only female wounded in the action...
(1893–1971) who was a Coatbridge teacher who fought in the Irish 1916 Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
acting variously as scout and sniper before being wounded in action. She went on to become paymaster general of the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
. Dr. Charles O'Neill from Coatbridge represented South Armagh as the member of parliament.. Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer was an nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Coatbridge, Scotland, McAteer's family moved to Derry in Northern Ireland while he was young. In 1930 he joined the Inland Revenue, where he worked until 1944. He then became an accountant and more actively involved in politics...
who was born in Coatbridge was perhaps the most important nationalist political figure in pre-troubles Northern Ireland. Danny Hegan
Danny Hegan
Daniel "Danny" Hegan is a Scottish-born former professional footballer, who represented Northern Ireland at international level....
, born in Coatbridge, played international football for Northern Ireland.
Further reading
- Monks - Des Dillon
- Doing my bit for Ireland - Margaret Skinnider, (1917) New York, century Press
- The Irish in Scotland - James Handley
- Celtic Minded - Joseph M. Bradley (Ed.)