Irish Imigration to Texas
By Priya Mekala
Ireland Flag
The green in the flag represents the Society of United Irishmen (a republican organization in the 1790s) and it also represents the native people of Ireland. The orange represents the supporters of the House of Orange, who settled in Ireland in the seventeenth century). Finally the white represents the peace between the two sides reflecting on the independence and union of the people of Ireland.
Map of Ireland
Why did the Irish want to leave Ireland? The political and religious persecution they were facing in there homeland was one of the main things that made them want to leave Ireland. In 1602, the Battle of Kinsale, Irish armies were defeated by the English which lead to the beginning of Irish immigration. For the next 320 years the Irish did not have education or political representation. Time after time the Irish tried to defeat the English but then again time of after time they got defeated which leads to another wave of Irish immigration. The Potato Famine was when the Irish livestock and grain was sent to England while the Irish was starving in Ireland (1840s). This also caused another wave of Irish immigrating into Texas.
Map of Texas
Why did the Irish want to come to Texas? The abundance of cheap land and natural resources seemed very appealing to the Irish people. The Irish were farmers and the land could be used for agriculture. There was also a lot of job opportunities. Mexico saw that that Catholic Irish were spreading the Catholic faith so they let them come into Mexico easily which was a big plus for the Irish. Where they settled: Mainly in San Patricio colony and Refugio colony, Dallas, San Antonio, Victoria, Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Stagger's Point, Liberty, Beaumont.
Where the Irish Settled
Peter's Colony
Culture Highlights
Irish Music and Dancing
A favorite pastime of the Irish is singing and traditional Celtic music is an important part of the culture. Some of the traditional instruments include button accordion, harp, tin whistle, fiddle, bedhran (drum), bagpipes and Uilleann pipes. The traditional Irish music and dancing is described by “céili”. Irish traditional stepdancing is performed using mostly legs and keeping the arms stiffly at the sides of the body.
Irish Myths/ Legends
The myths started from when the Celts ruled Ireland. The Irish have many myths and legends consisting of small people (fairies and leprechauns). One of the fun myths is that at the end of a rainbow you can find a leprechaun's pot of gold. The Irish were very wonderful story makers.
Food
The main part of the Irish diet is potatoes. Some other things that the Irish's diet consists of is lamb, Irish stew, sausage, homemade cheeses, fresh fish, fresh baked breads and scones, fish & chips (chippers), potatoes, cabbage, carrots, corned beef, cabbage and boxty. The Irish have very large breakfasts called "frys" and are well known for them.
St. Patrick's Day
Wake for the Dead
Culture in Texas
Significant Individuals
Father Michael (Miguel) Muldoon (1780-?)
Micheal Muldoon's father was an Irishman who ran away to marry a Spanish lady. Muldoon became a priest and he was assigned to New Spain. Later after Mexico got their independence he moved into Texas. There he was a Catholic priest in SFA (Stephen F. Austin)'s colony. When he was there he helped write the protests against Mexican government. When he went to Mexico and Austin was put in jail he helped in the efforts for him. He also helped another prisoner escape from a prison in Matamoras. He stayed in Texas after the revolution. A town in Fayette County was named after him.
Margaret Heffernan Borland (1824-1873)
Borland was born in Ireland and she grew up in San Patricio. She had 3 husbands and 8 children. After her third husband died she took over the family cattle business. In 1837 she owned over 10,000 livestock and was the only woman to lead a cattle drive to Kansas. After she got to Kansas she died of a trail fever.
Thomas O'Connor (1819-1887)
He came from County Wexford, Ireland with his uncle James Power in 1834. Since he was settler in Power and Hewestson Colony he was granted 4,428 acres of land. When he was 17 he fought in the battle of San Jacinto (youngest man to fight). After the battle he came back he went to back to his trade of making saddletrees. 40 years later he had land in 6 land and had 500 thousand of land fenced off and 100,000 cattle grazed on the land. At the time of his death in 1887 he was the largest individual land and cattle ranch owner (which was worth $4,500,000).
Margaret Heffernan Borland
Shamrock Hose Company
Did you know?
Snakes!
There are no snakes in Ireland. Supposedly because St. Patrick beat a drum and banished the snakes.
Harp or Shamrock?
The harp is actually the official emblem of Ireland not the Shamrock. It was played by the Celtic forefathers.
Irish US Prsidents
40% of the US presidents had Irish ancestors.
Potatoes again....
The Irish were the first in Europe to grow potatoes widely.
Oatmeal!
The Irish were said to bring oatmeal to America
Green Rivers
The Chicago and San Antonio rivers are dyed green every year for St. Patrick's day.
Analysis
How have the Irish affected Texas?
What evidence of there of them today?
Is Texas better off because of Immigration?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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