"No Irish Need Apply" "Part III"

Welcome to 19th century America where the United States was predominantly Protestant and its people not very fond of the incoming Roman Catholics. Welcome to the 19th century Irish who were not only coming into the country by the thousands but who were predominantly if not all Roman Catholics. Welcome to the 19th century hostility between the both when it was not uncommon for the newly arrived Catholic priests and nuns and later on its churches and schools to be attacked.

Those Americans who had family lines already established in this country distrusted and disliked and suspected the Irish Catholics of not being able to be loyal to their new found land. (they thought they could only be loyal to the Pope) This distrust flowed over into the business world and made it difficult for Irish businesses to survive. Therefore, it was not unusual for the Irish to search and work any available job they could find not matter how humanly degrading it could be just to provide shelter and food for their families. Most did work no other man would risk their health or life to perform. From their earliest days of arrival to this country, the Irish worked in mills, factories, mines, railroads and sewers. They dug ditches, They shoveled horse shit from city streets. They did it all from sun up to sun down and for about one dollar a day. The Irish women worked as hard as their men in textile shops, sewing shops, cooking and cleaning for the wealthy folks, washing dishes in pubs and bars to scrubbing floors in buildings. There was even an office where the wealthy Americans could pick out among the newly arrived Irish women for servants in their homes. Even the children of the Irish worked when they became of age. The boys sold newspapers, shined shoes, swept floors, became messengers. Girls worked in sewing sweat shops. Every member of an Irish family did their share to place food on the table and clothes on their backs.

Every road, canal, railroad and bridge built in the late 19th and early 20th century were built by the Irish.

It would not be until 1960 that the Irish would finally be recognized and accepted in this country.

(tomorrow, Ireland In The Aftermath "Part IV")