Irish American Culture Essay

The Irish did not have much time and money for leisure activities. They did not do anything that was extravagant or costly. The Irish were usually working to save money and so there were limitations to how much they could use their money for personal pleasure. Plus, with busy working schedules, they simply did not have enough time. Irish gangs hung out together, play cards, go bowling, go to a pub, or go to a dance hall. They even had “... different bars in the neighborhood [that] were designated for different groups within the community, such as working men, older people, or single young men and women…” (Dolan, 26) Merchant class members established societies for major ethnic groups such as German, English, Welsh, and Irish. Irish Club, for

Intermarriage between the African Americans also blurred the ethnic lines. Greater participation in multicultural public schools also shows how Irish no longer needed parochial school system for all Irish students. Irish are also well represented in law, medicine, and other prestigious professions. They spoke English from the beginning, so language barriers were not seen as a result of this immigration. Irish history influenced many aspects of American life. In 1993, the University of Notre Dame and New York University established Irish studies and from then on, the classes doubled on Irish history. In 1995, Riverdance, an Irish dance show debuted in Dublin. Irish feis, or festivals last a few days and at the event many tourist companies promote Irish tourism. At the Irish feis there is food, music, and dance all related to Irish culture.
Irish immigrants influenced American history and culture in many ways. For example, many Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day because of the Irish population in America. Many famous Irish represented America worldwide such as President Kennedy. However, for all of the successes to occur, many immigrants struggled to establish the position and respect that Irish maintain in society today. From struggles in the coffin ships to the racial embarrassment faced with discrimination, our history is a reflection of the decisions made in the last century by the Irish immigrants in the