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The '''Catholic Irish''' have been a major American ethnic group since they started arriving in the 1830s in the wake of the horrible [[Irish Potato Famine]].  Extremely poor with a strong group cohesiveness, high interest in politics, and high rates of alcoholism and violence, they settled in the slums of large cities.  many worked in construction gangs.  The Irish rose rapidly in the ranks of the Democratic party, the Catholic Church, and (after 1880), the labor unions.  The Irish were very well organized, and, since 1850, have produced a majority of the leaders of the Catholic Church in the U.S., labor unions, the Democratic Party in larger cities, and Catholic high schools, colleges and universities. Politically, the Irish Catholic typically voted 80-95% Democratic in elections down to 1964.  

The '''Catholic Irish''' have been a major American ethnic group since they started arriving in the 1830s in the wake of the horrible [[Irish Potato Famine]].  Extremely poor with a strong group cohesiveness, high interest in politics, and high rates of alcoholism and violence, they settled in the slums of large cities.  many worked in construction gangs.  The Irish rose rapidly in the ranks of the Democratic party, the Catholic Church, and (after 1880), the labor unions.  The Irish were very well organized, and, since 1850, have produced a majority of the leaders of the Catholic Church in the U.S., labor unions, the Democratic Party in larger cities, and Catholic high schools, colleges and universities. Politically, the Irish Catholic typically voted 80-95% Democratic in elections down to 1964.  

About 45 million Americans are of Irish descent--but a majority are Protestants.   

About 45 million Americans are of Irish descent—but a majority are Protestants.   

==Migration==

==Migration==

Irish Catholics began arriving in the 1830s and especially 1840s, in the wake of devastating [[Irish Potato Famine|famine]] in Ireland. (Others went to Britain, Canada and Australia.)  

Irish Catholics began arriving in the 1830s and especially 1840s, in the wake of devastating [[Irish Potato Famine|famine]] in Ireland. (Others went to Britain, Canada and Australia.)  

Historically, Irish Catholics controlled many city machines and often served as chairmen of the Democratic National Committee, including [[Thomas Taggart]], Vance McCormick, [[James Farley]], [[Edward J. Flynn]], [[Robert E. Hannegan]], [[J. Howard McGrath]], William H. Boyle, Jr., [[John Moran Bailey]], [[Larry O'Brien]], [[Christopher Dodd]], and [[Terry McAuliffe]]. The majority of Irish Catholics in Congress are Democrats; currently [[Susan Collins]] of Maine is the only Irish Catholic Republican senator.  

Historically, Irish Catholics controlled many city machines and often served as chairmen of the Democratic National Committee, including [[Thomas Taggart]], Vance McCormick, [[James Farley]], [[Edward J. Flynn]], [[Robert E. Hannegan]], [[J. Howard McGrath]], William H. Boyle, Jr., [[John Moran Bailey]], [[Larry O'Brien]], [[Christopher Dodd]], and [[Terry McAuliffe]]. The majority of Irish Catholics in Congress are Democrats; currently [[Susan Collins]] of Maine is the only Irish Catholic Republican senator.  

Exit polls show that in recent presidential elections Irish Catholics have split about 50-50 for Democratic and Republican candidates; large majorities voted for Ronald Reagan.<ref>[George J. Marlin, ''The American Catholic Voter'' (2004), pp 296-345</ref> The pro-life silent majority in the Democratic party includes many Irish Catholic politicians, such as senator [[Bob Casey, Jr.]], who defeated Senator [[Rick Santorum]] in a high visibility race in Pennsylvania in 2006. <ref>Prendergast, William B. ''The Catholic Voter in American Politics: The Passing of the Democratic Monolith'' (1999)</ref>

Exit polls show that in recent presidential elections Irish Catholics have split about 50-50 for Democratic and Republican candidates; large majorities voted for Ronald Reagan.<ref>[George J. Marlin, ''The American Catholic Voter'' (2004), pp 296-345</ref> The pro-life silent majority in the Democratic party includes many Irish Catholic politicians, such as senator [[Bob Casey, Jr.]], who defeated Senator [[Rick Santorum]] in a high visibility race in Pennsylvania in 2006.<ref>Prendergast, William B. ''The Catholic Voter in American Politics: The Passing of the Democratic Monolith'' (1999)</ref>

Many major cities have elected Irish Catholic mayors. [[Chicago]], [[Boston]], and [[Jersey City]] have breen especially prominent. New York City has had at least three Irish-born mayors and over eight Irish Catholic mayors. The most recent one was William O'Dwyer, elected in 1949.

Many major cities have elected Irish Catholic mayors. [[Chicago]], [[Boston]], and [[Jersey City]] have breen especially prominent. New York City has had at least three Irish-born mayors and over eight Irish Catholic mayors. The most recent one was William O'Dwyer, elected in 1949.

==Catholic Church==

==Catholic Church==

By the 1890s the Irish largely controlled the Catholic Church in the U.S. Most bishops and college presidents were Irish.  Sometimes this involved battling other ethnic groups, such as the Germans (who outnumbered the Irish), the Poles and the French Canadians.<ref> The Poles grew so angry that a minority faction in 1897 split off from the Roman Catholic Church and set up the Polish National Catholic Church in America, which today has about 150,000 members.</ref>

By the 1890s the Irish largely controlled the Catholic Church in the U.S. Most bishops and college presidents were Irish.  Sometimes this involved battling other ethnic groups, such as the Germans (who outnumbered the Irish), the Poles and the French Canadians.<ref>The Poles grew so angry that a minority faction in 1897 split off from the Roman Catholic Church and set up the Polish National Catholic Church in America, which today has about 150,000 members.</ref>

==Education==

==Education==

Boston College, established by Jesuit priests in 1863 to appeal to urban Irish Catholics, offered a rather limited intellectual curriculum. The Jesuits of the late 19th century were wary of the radically changing world and limited intellectual study to Thomistic philosophy. The priests prioritized spiritual and sacramental activities over intellectual pursuits. One consequence was that Harvard University would not admit Boston College graduates to its law school. Jesuit interaction with the world of authentic scholarship would not come until well into the 20th century.<ref> Marianne Gallagher, "The Jesuits at Boston College in the Late Nineteenth Century," ''American Catholic Studies'' 2007 118(2): 43-66, </ref>

Boston College, established by Jesuit priests in 1863 to appeal to urban Irish Catholics, offered a rather limited intellectual curriculum. The Jesuits of the late 19th century were wary of the radically changing world and limited intellectual study to Thomistic philosophy. The priests prioritized spiritual and sacramental activities over intellectual pursuits. One consequence was that Harvard University would not admit Boston College graduates to its law school. Jesuit interaction with the world of authentic scholarship would not come until well into the 20th century.<ref>Marianne Gallagher, "The Jesuits at Boston College in the Late Nineteenth Century," ''American Catholic Studies'' 2007 118(2): 43-66,</ref>

==Ireland==

==Ireland==

The American Irish Catholics were strong supporters of independence for Ireland, and from the 1860s to this day were the main financial backers of independence movements, followed by movements to disrupt British rule in Northern ireland.  In the 1860s several thousand Civil War Union veterans formed the Feniean Society, which planned a military invasion to seize canada.  The plan was to trade Canada for a free Ireland. The Fenians were too few and too badly organized; they failed miserably. The Americans played a decisive role in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s, ending the Irish Republican Army's campaign of violence.<ref> By contrast, when Ulster Protestants tried to mobilize support in the U.S. in the 1970s, they had minimal success. Andrew J. Wilson, "Ulster Unionists in America, 1972-1985," ''New Hibernia Review'' 2007 11(1): 50-73, </ref>

The American Irish Catholics were strong supporters of independence for Ireland, and from the 1860s to this day were the main financial backers of independence movements, followed by movements to disrupt British rule in Northern ireland.  In the 1860s several thousand Civil War Union veterans formed the Feniean Society, which planned a military invasion to seize canada.  The plan was to trade Canada for a free Ireland. The Fenians were too few and too badly organized; they failed miserably. The Americans played a decisive role in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s, ending the Irish Republican Army's campaign of violence.<ref>By contrast, when Ulster Protestants tried to mobilize support in the U.S. in the 1970s, they had minimal success. Andrew J. Wilson, "Ulster Unionists in America, 1972-1985," ''New Hibernia Review'' 2007 11(1): 50-73,</ref>

==see also==  

==See also==

* [[Protestant Irish]]

* [[Protestant Irish]]

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Glazier, Michael, ed. ''The Encyclopedia of the Irish in America,'' (1999), the best place to start--the most authoritative source, with essays by over 200 experts, covering both Catholics and Protestants.

* Glazier, Michael, ed. ''The Encyclopedia of the Irish in America,'' (1999), the best place to start—the most authoritative source, with essays by over 200 experts, covering both Catholics and Protestants.

* Anbinder, Tyler. ''Five Points: The Nineteenth-Century New York City Neighborhood That Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum'' (2001).

* Anbinder, Tyler. ''Five Points: The Nineteenth-Century New York City Neighborhood That Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum'' (2001).

* Bayor, Ronald and Timothy Meagher, eds. ''The New York Irish'' (1996) comprehensive overview by numerous scholars

* Bayor, Ronald and Timothy Meagher, eds. ''The New York Irish'' (1996) comprehensive overview by numerous scholars

* Potter, George W. . ''To the Golden Door: The Story of the Irish in Ireland and America'' (1960). useful survey [http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.questia.com/library/book/to-the-golden-door-the-story-of-the-irish-in-ireland-and-america-by-george-w-potter.jsp&ei=3_LbSsOCFIeuswPBpIieBg&sa=X&oi=nshc&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CA8QzgQoAA&usg=AFQjCNGREO3hj08iKBc8FfsY5DQQlneI0Q online edition]

* Potter, George W. . ''To the Golden Door: The Story of the Irish in Ireland and America'' (1960). useful survey [http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.questia.com/library/book/to-the-golden-door-the-story-of-the-irish-in-ireland-and-america-by-george-w-potter.jsp&ei=3_LbSsOCFIeuswPBpIieBg&sa=X&oi=nshc&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CA8QzgQoAA&usg=AFQjCNGREO3hj08iKBc8FfsY5DQQlneI0Q online edition]

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[[Category:Ethnicities]]

[[Category:Ethnicities]]

[[category:Irish-Americans]]

[[Category:Irish-Americans]]