History of the Irish in Louisville
Encyclopedia
The history of the Irish in Louisville is a long one as involvement of Irish
in Louisville
, Kentucky
dates to the founding of the city. The two major waves of Irish influence on Louisville were first the Scots-Irish in the late 18th century, and those who escaped from the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s.
Louisville was born from the original settlement by George Rogers Clark
of Corn Island. Among the first settlers were the Irish families of Coomes, Doherty, McManus, and Hart. The original surveys of the land that would become Louisville were done by the Irishmen John Campbell
and John Connolly. William Croghan, who was the brother-in-law of Clark, would have a tremendous influence, best represented by Historic Locust Grove
, which was built by Croghan and is now a National Historic Landmark
. A stockade on the outer reaches of Louisville was built by Irishman James Sullivan in 1780
In 1805, several Irish natives were living on Fifth Street by the Ohio River, but due to exogamous marriages and removals to new residences this was the last concentration of the Scots-Irish/Ulster Scots in Louisville. Irish from beyond the borders of Ulster would not arrive in Louisville until after the War of 1812
.
The new wave of Irish began in 1812 when James Anderson immigrated to Louisville,. He started a successful wholesale dry good store and also directed the Louisville branch of the Bank of the United States
and joined the Louisville Commons Council. By 1825 many new Irish had come to Louisville, starting jobs such as candlemaking, groceries, and boardinghouses.
With all the Irish coming to Louisville, many of the jobs that would normally be served by chattel slaves were instead being performed by the Irish, causing a major decrease in the number of slaves in Louisville prior to 1860. However, the influx of Irish brought with it different tensions, as it increased the number of Catholics in the city. This culminated in 1855's Bloody Monday
riots.
By the late 1860s, Irish residents of Portland moved to the Limerick district of Louisville
, in order to be closer to their jobs with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. It would be the predominant Irish neighborhood in Louisville until 1905.
was a newspaper printed for the Irish in Louisville. Founded in 1896 in Limerick, it existed until 1968. However, Limerick as an Irish stronghold ended after the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1902 chose to move its shop to Louisville's Highland Park
district, causing most of its Irish workforce to move with it. By 1920 Limerick had lost its Irish character; the last St. Patrick's Day Parade in Limerick was in 1918; Louisville would not see another until the 1970s.
The Irish decline continued for decades. The Ancient Order of Hibernians
once had seven chapters in Louisville, but the last one folded in 1944. The 1960s saw a renewed interest in Irish culture in Louisville, and the Hibernians returned in Louisville in 1966; the National Convention met in Louisville in 1994 at the Galt House
. Other groups interested in Irish culture would form in Louisville. Mayor Harvey Sloane brought back the Saint Patrick's Day parades during his administration. Outside of Chicago
, no Midwestern city has had more Irish music bands than Louisville.
The Celtic Centre has sold Irish goods to local Irish for over twenty-five years.
On April 14, 2008, Louisville became a sister city of Bushmills
, Northern Ireland
. There was a vote that took place, where voters could decide if Louisville, Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine
would twin with Bushmills.
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...
in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
dates to the founding of the city. The two major waves of Irish influence on Louisville were first the Scots-Irish in the late 18th century, and those who escaped from the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s.
1700s
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
of Corn Island. Among the first settlers were the Irish families of Coomes, Doherty, McManus, and Hart. The original surveys of the land that would become Louisville were done by the Irishmen John Campbell
John Campbell
- British political figures :* John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun , Lord Chancellor of Scotland, President of the Privy Council* John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll , Scottish soldier, Lord Steward, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey...
and John Connolly. William Croghan, who was the brother-in-law of Clark, would have a tremendous influence, best represented by Historic Locust Grove
Historic Locust Grove
Historic Locust Grove is a 55-acre 18th century farm site and National Historic Landmark situated in eastern Jefferson County, Kentucky . The site is presently owned by the Louisville Metro government, and operated as a historic interpretive site by Historic Locust Grove, Inc.The main feature on...
, which was built by Croghan and is now a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. A stockade on the outer reaches of Louisville was built by Irishman James Sullivan in 1780
1800s
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
The new wave of Irish began in 1812 when James Anderson immigrated to Louisville,. He started a successful wholesale dry good store and also directed the Louisville branch of the Bank of the United States
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
and joined the Louisville Commons Council. By 1825 many new Irish had come to Louisville, starting jobs such as candlemaking, groceries, and boardinghouses.
With all the Irish coming to Louisville, many of the jobs that would normally be served by chattel slaves were instead being performed by the Irish, causing a major decrease in the number of slaves in Louisville prior to 1860. However, the influx of Irish brought with it different tensions, as it increased the number of Catholics in the city. This culminated in 1855's Bloody Monday
Bloody Monday
Bloody Monday was the name given the election riots of August 6, 1855, in Louisville, Kentucky. These riots grew out of the bitter rivalry between the Democrats and supporters of the Know-Nothing Party. Rumors were started that foreigners and Catholics had interfered with the process of voting...
riots.
By the late 1860s, Irish residents of Portland moved to the Limerick district of Louisville
Limerick, Louisville
Limerick is a neighborhood one mile south of downtown Louisville, Kentucky USA. It was developed in the 1860s as a place of residence for employees of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad freight yard. It was named because nearly all of the residents were from the Irish county of Limerick. The St....
, in order to be closer to their jobs with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. It would be the predominant Irish neighborhood in Louisville until 1905.
Twentieth century
The Kentucky Irish AmericanKentucky Irish American
The Kentucky Irish American was an ethnic weekly newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky, which catered to Louisville's Irish community.It was first published on July 4, 1898, founded by William M. Higgins. It was a four-page weekly. Higgins would run the paper until his death on June 9, 1925...
was a newspaper printed for the Irish in Louisville. Founded in 1896 in Limerick, it existed until 1968. However, Limerick as an Irish stronghold ended after the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1902 chose to move its shop to Louisville's Highland Park
Highland Park, Louisville
Highland Park was a city near and eventually neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky that was razed as a part of the expansion of Louisville International Airport...
district, causing most of its Irish workforce to move with it. By 1920 Limerick had lost its Irish character; the last St. Patrick's Day Parade in Limerick was in 1918; Louisville would not see another until the 1970s.
The Irish decline continued for decades. The Ancient Order of Hibernians
Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be Catholic and either Irish born or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in the United States, where it was founded in New York City in 1836...
once had seven chapters in Louisville, but the last one folded in 1944. The 1960s saw a renewed interest in Irish culture in Louisville, and the Hibernians returned in Louisville in 1966; the National Convention met in Louisville in 1994 at the Galt House
Galt House
The Galt House is a 25-story, 1300-room hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. The original hotel was erected in 1837. The current Galt House is presently the city's only hotel on the Ohio River. Many noted people have stayed at the Galt House, including Jefferson Davis, Charles Dickens, Abraham Lincoln...
. Other groups interested in Irish culture would form in Louisville. Mayor Harvey Sloane brought back the Saint Patrick's Day parades during his administration. Outside of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, no Midwestern city has had more Irish music bands than Louisville.
Today
Louisville today has several businesses with strong Irish ties. Recently an "Irish Pub District" has been observed, centered around Baxter Avenue, featuring Dublin's Cellar, Flanagan's, Molly Malone's, and O'Shea's. The Irish Rover is also a favorite restaurant.The Celtic Centre has sold Irish goods to local Irish for over twenty-five years.
On April 14, 2008, Louisville became a sister city of Bushmills
Bushmills
Bushmills is a village on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bushmills had 1,319 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. It is located 95 km from Belfast, 10 km from Ballycastle and 15 km from Coleraine...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. There was a vote that took place, where voters could decide if Louisville, Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
would twin with Bushmills.
See also
- History of Louisville, KentuckyHistory of Louisville, KentuckyThe history of Louisville, Kentucky spans hundreds of years, with thousands of years of human habitation. The area's geography and location on the Ohio River attracted people from the earliest times. The city is located at the Falls of the Ohio River...
- History of the Germans in LouisvilleHistory of the Germans in LouisvilleThe history of the Germans in Louisville began in 1787. In that year, a man named Kaye built the first brick house in Louisville, Kentucky. The Blankenbaker, Bruner, and Funk families came to the Louisville region following the American Revolutionary War, and in 1797 they founded the town...
- Irish Hill, Louisville