Archives of the Irish experience throughout the world can be found in destination countries, and some of these are online. These are useful for scholars but are also fun for just browsing around – there’s a host of gems here! Britain Archive of the Irish in Britain US Archives of Irish America – Includes several… Continue reading Primary documents
Category: history
Emigration-related heritage centers
There are several heritage centres around Ireland with an emigration-related theme. Here are a few: Jeannie Johnston On-board museum highlighting the ship’s 16 voyages to America, in which the ship never lost any of its 2,500 passengers. Purchased as a cargo ship in 1848 by a Tralee merchant, it was used to transport emigrants over… Continue reading Emigration-related heritage centers
Emigration in film: a select list of documentaries
A number of documentaries have been made about emigration over the years; here’s a list of some of them, with links to where you may purchase them. (Before purchasing any DVD, make sure it is compatible with your region.) Celtic Waves: The Flow of Irish Emigration – An excellent introductory video focusing on emigration from… Continue reading Emigration in film: a select list of documentaries
“I Only Came Over for a Couple of Years” records experience of London Irish
Yet another oral history project detailing the experience of elderly Irish emigrants has come to your correspondent’s attention. “I Only Came Over for a Couple of Years”, a documentary that was completed in 2005, is now available on DVD from the Irish Studies Centre of London Metropolitan University. The film is a collection of interviews… Continue reading “I Only Came Over for a Couple of Years” records experience of London Irish
Surfing film highlights Irish role in origins of sport
The role of Irish-American George Freeth in establishing the modern sport of surf-boarding is explored in a film now playing in movie theatres. Waveriders tells the story of Freeth, who had a Hawaiian mother and an Irish father. He brought the sport of surfing from Hawaii, where it had nearly been eliminated by missionaries, to… Continue reading Surfing film highlights Irish role in origins of sport
Mystery of immigrants’ mass grave may be solved
The mass grave of a group of Irish railroad workers who died in 1832 during a cholera outbreak may have been located at last, thanks to the efforts of researchers in Pennsylvania who have spent six years searching. The 57 men had arrived from Derry, Donegal, and Tyrone, hired by fellow Irishman Philip Duffy to… Continue reading Mystery of immigrants’ mass grave may be solved