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The
American Irish
There are 3.8 million people in Ireland, but when Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, it seems that the whole world turns Irish. The day commemorates Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland in the Fifth Century. Although not an official holiday in the United States, St. Patrick's Day has a long history of being celebrated with parades and general goodwill toward all things Irish, or at least Irish-American. (Translation:
green beer, corned
beef and cabbage and Irish
soda bread). The Irish
who immigrated to the United States brought the traditions
of the home land with them. Many who fled the poverty, famine
and unrest landed on the shores of North America. In the US
today, there are 33.7 million residents who claim Irish ancestry.
This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland
itself. Almost a quarter of the people who live in the state of Massachusetts descend from Irish immigrants. With 23 percent of the population of Celtic ancestry, Irish Massachusetts has a higher proportion of residents of Irish descent than any other state, edging out New Hampshire (20 percent) and Rhode Island (18 percent). The remaining New England states -- Connecticut, Vermont and Maine -- also rank among the top 10 in this category, as does Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Montana. While New York City has the largest number of Irish residents Boston tops the list of cities with the largest percentage of the population. Some more Irish-American numbers... 156,000 - U.S. residents born in Ireland, which was among the top 10 countries of birth among the foreign-born population as recently as 1970. 373,000 - Tourists and business travelers from "the old sod" who visit the United States annually. $24 billion - The value of U.S. imports from the Republic of Ireland during a recent 10-month period. Meanwhile, the United States exported $7.5 billion worth of goods to Ireland. 22 - Gallons of beer consumed per capita by Americans annually. Some establishments offer beer dyed green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. 9 - Number of places in the United States which share the name of Dublin, Ireland's capital city. Dublin, Ohio, was the most populous, at 31,392, followed closely by Dublin, California, at 29,973. 4 - Number of places in the United States named Shamrock, the floral emblem of Ireland. Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia and Shamrock, Texas, were the most populous, with 2,623 and 2,029 residents, respectively. Shamrock Lakes, Indiana had 168 residents and Shamrock, Oklahoma, 125. If you're still not into the spirit of St. Paddy's Day after stopping by one of the places named "Shamrock" or "Dublin," then you might consider paying a visit to Emerald Isle, North Carolina, with 3,488 residents, of whom in a ratio of 1-in-6 are of Irish descent. Source: US CENSUS BUREAU Some Irish-American Trivia: Pop Quiz Think you know a lot about Ireland and Irish-American pop-culture? Take our pop quiz to find out. You'll find the answers at the bottom of the page....and no peeking!!
2. What form of Irish dance became all the rage in America at the turn of the 19th century? 3. Those who kiss the Blarney Stone are said to be given what? 4. Where do leprechauns bury their pot of gold? 5. "Erin go Bragh" means this in Irish: 6. "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral" was big hit for Bing Crosby in what popular movie? 7. What is Ireland's nickname? 8. What is Ireland's most common surname? ANSWERS 1. (c) Scotland 2. (c) Irish jig 3. (b) gift of gab 4. (b) end of the rainbow 5.. (b) Ireland Forever 6. (a) Going My Way 7. (d) All of the above 9. (a) Murphy
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1. Saint Patrick was born in what country?
More in St.
Patricks Day
