From Mike:
http://njaohdiv1.org/irish-history/irish-railroad-workers/
This will get you moving!!
Well thanks for that Mike and Miningman! Very rousing!
You know, “Paddy On The Railway” goes back before the building of the transcontinental railroad. The song originated during the construction of the Erie Railroad, just around 1850. But at any rate, it would eventually apply to any 'road Irishmen worked on.
Continuting with the music, this isn’t railroad related but it’s equally as rousing. Here’s the Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem, the “Four Kings of Ireland” doing the (in my opinion) best version of “Brennan On The Moor.”
What would any of us give to be in a room with those guys and a case of beer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkxuWte_iKg
And Happy Saint Patrick’s Day all!
Paddy on the railway got a early start on hell raising
http://www.hsccmd.org/Documents/Carroll%20County%20Times%20Yesteryears/2009/04-12-2009.pdf
Celebrating St Patty’s Day with our annual fire department chicken barbeque. In fact, it’s time to get to work!
It didn’t end well for a lot of the Irish immigrants. A few years back it came to light that an entire crew of 57 died in what’s now a western suburb of Philadelphia at a place called Duffy’s cut, apparently due to either cholera or murder. See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duffy's_Cut
- PDN.
I knew St. Patrick’s day was coming when yesterday a drunk walked along my street singing “Dirty Old Town” at the top of his lungs. Now it is St. Patrick’s day and I’m off to the bar.
The Irish in the 1820’s were the ‘Mexicans’ of today. A ocean didn’t keep them out, let alone a wall. The human animal will always seek to better his situation.
They came here legally, in accordance with the laws of the time.
And that’s as far as I’m going with that can of worms.
[quote user=“Balt ACD”]
The Irish in the 1820’s were the ‘Mexicans’ of today. A ocean didn’t keep them out, let alone a wall. The human animal will always seek to better his situation.
They came here legally, in accordance with the laws of the time. And that’s as far as I’m going with that can of worms.[quote user “Flintlock76”)
Balt nailed it, as far as I’m concerned.
From what I understand, there were practically no “illegal” immigrants to the USA before the Civil War; if you could get here, you could get in.
No immigrant groups, beginning with the Irish, were ever welcomed to America. Each was resented, then discriminated against, and then after two or three generations accepted as American as anyone else (mostly). As will be Mexicans and Central Americans. Already we read of younger Muslims not wearing hijabs.
The countless Irishmen who labored and died building the early canals (called “navvies” by the English because they dug canals for navigation there) and railroads here in the USA are respected and held in esteem by this distictly non-Irish American, especially on this day.
Erin go braugh!
Let me give a gentle reminder to all, Miningman started this thread for us all to have some fun with.
And just so everyone knows, both sets of my grandparents, one from Italy, and one from Ireland, came to this country after dotting every “I”, crossing every “T”, and passing through Ellis Island, just as millions of others did.
Some Americans have Valley Forge in their background, some have the “Gold Rush,” some have Gettysburg. I don’t envy them, I have Ellis Island!
So don’t any of you presume to think I’m anti-immigration.
Day’s almost over with anyway. Hope you all had a good one!
I sure did, went to a train show and came away with some goooood stuff!
And as the Irish song says, “Good night, and joy be with you all!”
Good way to end the night.
North Dakota born Lawrence Welk sounding like an immigrant
Yet more Irish:
I’m not Irish so I don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s day. Why do the Irish make such a big deal of honoring an Englishman?
My ancestry looks like a rack full of ethnic DNA bottles from northern Europe that got spilled and the mess was added to my particular mix. I don’t celebrate all the holidays that come from my background, but quite a few, in my own way.
It’s a bit of a nasty world out there and anything that celebrates life and friendship is a great way to “make the world go away” for a brief while. Much like my railroad related activities and other hobbies.
And then there’s this, it’s set in Yorkshire but features a well-known Irish product:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y07at1bU89Q
and these just for fun- Slainte!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urIsx9rxZ4U
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/green-beer-stone-angel-st-patricks-day-1.5060459
How could the world exist without stereotypes?
I spent my St Patrick’s Day selling BBQ chicken dinners for the fire department. The best part is that we sold out! Hasn’t happened for the past couple of years.
I think there’s Irish somewhere in my ancestry, but I don’t know exactly what. Mom’s side arrived in MA in the 1600, from England. Dad’s line arrived in 1833 from Alsace and settled in Detroit.
I don’t know how many others have seen them, but Lynn and I have been quite put off by recent ads for these DNA-based ancestry services that imply that you might be fortunate and find out that you have some Irish in you. It’s great not to be Irish.
Just marketing. Wonder if they’ll advertise for Italian around Columbus Day…
I’ve seen those “goob in a tube” ads myself. I don’t pay attention to 'em, I already know everything I need to.
And if others besides me feel the same way let me assure you we’re not alone. George Washington once recieved a letter from an English historian inquiring about Washington’s English background and the family’s history in Britain. The General wrote a very polite letter back to the man saying he really couldn’t help him much as, “That is a subject in which I have and have had very little interest.”
So, we’re not alone!