Books to Learn about Irish American Culture and Immigration

All the Irish people I know are super proud of their Irish heritage. So it was surprising when my friend recently found out that she has Irish heritage! Her grandmother had hidden that fact from the family. We had lots of interesting thoughts and comments about discrimination, race and assimilation. Naturally, I then wanted to dive into Irish immigration and Irish American Culture this St. Patrick’s Day.

Books about Irish Culture and Immigration

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I’ve included videos that we looked up as we read these books. Scroll to the end for a fun movie to watch for St. Patrick’s Day! Looking to read reviews or purchase? Here’s the booklist on Amazon.

Longer, Reference-type books

This Land is Our Land: A History of American Immigration by Linda Barrett Osborne, link to archive.org

This is a comprehensive look at the history of immigration to the United States of America. The first chapter in the book is titled, “The Beginnings: Germans, Irish, and Nativists.” Nativists are the descendents of the English colonists and early American settlers. “Nativists didn’t just believe that they were the only true Americans; they actively fought to keep other ethnic groups out of the United States…After 1840, Midwestern and Western states and territories actually encouraged immigration, since they had so much unpopulated land to be settled.” (Page 10-11). The first chapter tells of the indentured servitude and the discrimination faced by this first wave of German and Irish immigrants.

You Wouldn’t Want to Sail on an Irish Famine Ship! by Jim Pipe, link to archive.org

Learn about the potato famine and ships that sent one million Irish emigrants across the Atlantic from 1845 to 1851. Many died of fever during the passage, earning the boats the nickname of “coffin ships.”

Picture Books

The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan, link to archive.org

A boy whittles a shillelagh, or Irish walking stick, when he leaves homeland of Ireland during the potato famine. The shillelagh and story are passed down through generations of his family in America, including through both world wars.

Fiona’s Lace by Patricia Polacco, link to archive.org

This is a true story from Polacco’s heritage–a story of Irish immigration to Chicago and indentured servitude. In an effort to earn extra money, Fiona makes lace. In the end, it serves another purpose. Her lace is made by hand, but watch this video to see traditional Irish lace made with a thin crochet hook.

Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story by Eve Bunting, link to archive.org

Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed through Ellis Island on January 1, 1892. This is a fictionalized account of a real person and her crossing from Cobh, Ireland, where there is a statue of her.

Patrick and the President by Ryan Tubridy, link to archive.org

Told through young Patrick’s eyes, the town is in a fervor to meet President Kennedy when he visits Ireland in 1963. Will Patrick get a chance? The endnotes describe how Kennedy’s great-grandparents immigrated to Boston during the potato famine in Ireland. Mentioned in the book and with the tune and lyrics on the front and back cover, “The Boys of Wexford” is an Irish ballad about the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Try singing or playing the tune on an instrument, or just have a listen with the video (below).

Irish American Mom has a great blog post about US presidents with Irish heritage.

Movie

Movie: The Luck of the Irish

The history of discrimination against the Irish was also mentioned in this Disney channel movie. It’s great fun for kids with the positive message of the importance of knowing one’s heritage and culture. The Irish elements in the movie may be over stereotyped but as a kid’s fantasy movie involving leprechauns and luck, it was fine for us.

Crafting and Cooking

While learning about the potato famine, try this potato printing craft: