Celtic Irish
Celtic Irish refers to the descendants of the Irish people who identify with the traditional Celtic heritage of Ireland, particularly those who emigrated during the 1650s and later periods. The earliest arrivals in North America were primarily from southern Ireland and often brought with them their distinct cultural practices and family names of Celtic origin. In contrast, the later waves of immigration in the early 1700s included a larger proportion of people from northern Ireland, many of whom were of Scottish descent and became known as Scotch-Irish.
These Scotch-Irish immigrants largely assimilated into Irish culture while retaining their Protestant faith, often aligning more closely with established English settlers. However, the Celtic Irish, predominantly Catholic, faced significant ethnic discrimination upon their arrival in North America. This division between the two groups highlights the complex historical and cultural dynamics of Irish immigrants in North America, emphasizing the differing experiences based on religion and regional identity. Understanding the Celtic Irish experience is crucial for grasping the broader narrative of Irish immigration and its impact on American society.
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Celtic Irish
During the 1650s, the first immigrants from Ireland began to arrive in North America. These people were of southern Celtic Irish decent and brought to English colonies in North America as servants and laborers. It was not until the early 1700’s that large numbers of people from throughout Ireland emigrated to North America. The majority of these immigrants were from northern Ireland and of Scottish ancestry; lesser numbers were from southern Ireland and identified themselves with traditional native peoples of Ireland and a Celtic heritage.
The Scotch-Irish immigrants to North America were fourth- or fifth-generation Scots in Ireland who had largely assimilated into the Irish culture except for their religious faith and their family names. The Scotch-Irish were predominantly Protestant rather than Catholic, and their family names revealed a Scottish heritage. Scotch-Irish living in northern Ireland considered themselves Irish, not Scottish. Immigrants to North America from southern Ireland were predominantly Catholic and usually bore family names of Celtic origin.
Despite the common heritage of Ireland, these two groups of immigrants were regarded quite differently upon their arrival in North America. The Protestant Scotch-Irish shared a common faith with the large numbers of established Protestant English settlers. The smaller numbers of southern Irish of Catholic and Celtic heritage became the focus of widespread ethnic discrimination.
Bibliography
Bielenberg, Andrew, ed. The Irish Diaspora. New York: Routledge, 2014. Print.
Giemza, Bryan Albin. Rethinking the Irish in the American South Beyond Rounders and Reelers. Jackson: UP of Mississippi, 2013. Print.
Johnson, Stanley Currie. Emigration from the United Kingdom to North America, 1763–1912. New York: Routledge, 2013. Print.
Kenny, Kevin. The American Irish: A History. New York: Routledge, 2014. Print.
Landsman, Ned C. Scotland and Its First American Colony, 1683–1765. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2014. Print.