Irish-American History
Lesson 1: General Introduction to the Period .
The Irish Contribution
To return to the speech made by President Robinson,
‘Emigration is not just a chronicle of sorrow and regret. It is also a powerful story of contribution and adaptation. In fact , I have become more convinced each year that this great narrative of dispossession and belonging , which so often had its origins in sorrow and leave-taking , has become – with a certain amount of historic irony- one of the treasures of our society.’(2)
The President also went on to describe Ireland as a country shaped by our settlers :
The Celts , Vikings , Normans , Hugenots , Scottish and English settlers.
Their intermingling of the races has made it difficult on occasion for the genealogists to trace families who so readily move between the names O’Neill to Mac Shane to Johnson.
Huge efforts have been made within the past 50 years to protect and maintain the built heritage of the various groupings in Ireland. These include work carried out at Newgrange on the Boyne, Ceide Fields in Mayo , the Navan Fort in Armagh and more up to date , the work being done at Ballance House in Antrim which has been restored by the Ulster-New Zealand Society in honour of John Ballance who became Prime Minister there.
President Robinson recommended these works and also the Famine Museum at Strokestown in County Roscommon
‘ There is a vivid and careful retelling of what happened during the Famine . When we stand in front of those images I believe we have a responsibility to understand them in human terms now , not just in Irish terms then’ (3)
The Irish have made huge contributions throughout Europe , America , Argentina, Australia , Canada and Britain.
Article 2 of the Irish Constitution states :
‘ The Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage.’ (4)
President Robinson said that she had chosen the title of her speech carefully .
‘Diaspora , in its meaning of dispersal or scattering , includes the many ways , not always chosen , that people have left this island’ (5)
By and large the Ulster –Scots departures through the 18th Century were chosen . The remarkable nature of this group of people and their contribution in American life can be seen in the prominence they achieved in the formation of the United States with a number rising to the position of President.
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