Read more: The most Irish town in America is named
So which is the most Irish town in America?
Last week we said Scituate 30 miles from Boston is home to the highest population density of Irish Americans in the U.S.
In the latest census data almost 50 percent of residents there are of Irish decent. It is one of a cluster of towns on Boston’s South Shore that Irish have colonized. At least 44 percent of the population in Braintree, Hull, Marshfield, Avon, Pembroke, and Milton claim Irish ancestry also.according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
But some folks disputed our figures.
Namely the folks in Breezy Point, New York and Spring Lake New Jersey begged to differ -- both claiming the title.
At first glance it appeared they had a case......
Breezy Point has the highest numbers of Irish according to the census, at 60.3. But the problem is the beautiful area on the outskirts of Rockaway in Queens is not a proper incorporated town.
It is actually a massive co-operative combining three smaller areas.
In 1962 the residents purchased 500 acres of land from the government at below value cost and the community became a co-operative.
The Census Bureau says only that it has the highest number of Irish per zip code, not that it is the largest town with Irish population.
So Scituate fends off that challenge.
Now Spring Lake New Jersey is also claiming the prize and indeed the US census for 2000 awards them that title -- or does it?
Like Breezy Point, Spring Lake is an ocean community that swells with vacationers. during the summer.
It is famous for the shark attacks in 1916 that killed four victims and later inspired Peter Benchley to write ‘Jaws.’
On the Irish front the census in 2000 said that 39 per cent of the population was of Irish extraction.
But Scituate, a much larger town, at 17,000 plus residents as against 3,500 has almost 50 per cent.
So Scituate wins that too.
And keeps its title as most Irish town in America.
Adding insult to injury for New York and New Jersey six other towns in Massachusetts have a larger Irish population.
No wonder quarterback Tom Brady is so popular up there.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.raynandsnow | Mar 19, 2011, 11:10 AM EDT
Well thats all very interesting, but most people in Ireland probably never heard of Scituate MA. What would be more interesting is the most Irish City, of say over 50,000 inhabitants. I mean in the United States of course. As for Ireland, to me the most Irish town is probably in Co.Clare and I would say the honour should go to Ennis.
MarthaAnne | Feb 08, 2011, 01:31 PM EST
OMG, I am so surprised to read about this! My family owned a summer house (not cottage, if you call 5 bedrooms and 3 baths a "cottage") in Scituate, North Scituate beach, to be exact. We had that house through the 50's to the 70's and Scituate was so Irish that we all went to confession in the same little chapel, and we'd have to sit far from the confessional so as not to hear each other's sins! Our street was composed of families of Irish descent who knew each other for a minimum of 2 generations, in our our cast, 3 generations. I'd see a father of a kid I played with and he's say: Oh, you look just like your mother did, etc. Our names were so very Irish (last names as well as first, generally) and we laughed and joked our way through the summers. The families came from places that were also pretty darned Irish (I would think, as Irish as Scituate): West Roxbury, Belmont, Watertown, Arlington, etc. I live in NYC and know Breezy Point. It is a much smaller enclave than is Scituate, but the Irish in that area are often immigrants making it very, very Irish. But you go down to Scituate and you see people who are all looking very Irish. I feel very happy there but we don't have a house there anymore (sigh). Far, far more beautiful than Breezy Point, by the way. Incredibly gorgeous, Scituate is. The people from Breezy Point need to visit Scituate and they will be stunned at the beauty of this magnificent New England fishing town, with it's gorgeous harbor, beaches, lighthouses and jettys, as well as the wonderful antique homes and lush gardens and greenery, the salt water marshes and magnificent birds and wildlife.
seansully | Jan 19, 2011, 11:18 AM EST
I feel the need to correct the author on the history of Breezy Point (as it was most certainly not purchased form the government at below market rate); In 1960 the predominantly Irish-American renters of Breezy point formed a Cooperative to purchase 400 out of 800 acres from a private developer who had plans to evict them and build high rise apartments. The land was purchased at a cost of $11MM from the developer who had recently paid $17.5MM for the full 800 acres. The only role the government played was to attempt eminent domain condemnation twice and outright seizure of the additional sand accretion over a period of decades. The restrictive nature the Cooperative was forced to adopt in defending itself is a large reason why turnover of properties has remained low over the years.
brianbillies | Jan 17, 2011, 10:07 AM EST
Breezy WINS
LuckOirish | Jan 14, 2011, 06:32 PM EST
Scituate a.k.a the "irish riveria" enough said.
brianbillies | Jan 14, 2011, 12:45 PM EST
Bleaver We go to the Blarney Castle !! Bro
brianbillies | Jan 14, 2011, 12:43 PM EST
BREEZY !! The best in the Business
bleaver | Jan 13, 2011, 06:28 PM EST
there is a beautifull little Inn in Scituate right on the Harbor that awaits all you Irishmen and women from Breezy Point and Spring Lake. It's pub serves the perfect pint of Guiness. So come on up and let's debate over a few shall we? By the by the Inn is owned by the Cooney's, Ferguson's and Leaver's (two out of 3 ain't bad!)
snakehips | Jan 13, 2011, 01:21 PM EST
Who really cares if Scituate is the most Irish town in America? We Americans of Irish ancestry are well represented and we won't be dying off anytime soon.It really doesn't matter where we are in America. Cheers!
jamieLM | Jan 12, 2011, 07:59 PM EST
Agree totally with greengurl. Iowa and Minnesota also have a lot of communities filled with people of Irish descent.
seamusmoore | Jan 12, 2011, 07:36 PM EST
How about culling the herd on this debate? If your "town" doesn't have a GAA club or is within a 30 mile radius of one, disqualify yourself as Irish; you may have, however, be eligible for West Brit status like Ballsbridge (that D4 or South Dublin for you uninformed Yanks).
jacersagain | Jan 12, 2011, 06:24 PM EST
@ markhanly – I have cousins and friends of Irish descent in US and Canada. Some of them did a similar exercise in their school years, writing back “home” for info and also using the internet. I’ll send email feelers off to them and see if they can help with advice and internet contacts. Maybe some others of Irish descent posting on ICentral could offer contacts and info to markhanly for the very interesting and worthy Programme that mark writes of (Jan 12, o2.44PM EST)?
jacersagain | Jan 12, 2011, 05:10 PM EST
I don’t know an awful lot about density of Irish-named descendants in the USA but I do know that the early Irish immigrants settled largely in NYC and State, Pittsburgh, Mass, and Chicago. However, there are stories about immigrants of the 1800’s being on the Oregon Trail and breaking off from the wagon trains to settle where they found the climate most resembling where they came from. I heard that most Irish broke off and settled in Oregon since that resembled Ireland at that time. It therefore surprises me that Oregon doesn’t get a mention above. Does Oregon have a large Irish presence today?
mmtwrite | Jan 12, 2011, 02:50 PM EST
My great-grandfather Daniel O'Brien and his twin sons John and Miles came from Lisnagourneen, County Cork, to America circa 1870. They settled in New Britain Connecticut. So many Irish immigrants lived there that a large part of the town was called "Little Dublin." But I don't know how many Irish live there now
markhanly | Jan 12, 2011, 02:44 PM EST
Great to see so many Irish Americans challenging for top Irish Town/City in USA. As an Irish Man living back home in Co.Kerry Ireland I am trying to find Schools that can link with mine in order to interact in our Irish Diasporas Cultural Development Programme that encourages students to investigate their family trees and find out exactly wher their Irish ancestors came from and also help us learn about their different cultures they are not living with. Any Ideas how to help?
mcdolan | Jan 12, 2011, 01:43 PM EST
Well, it appears that technically Scituate wins, but perception-wise both Breezy Point and Spring Lake take the cake!
VDDService | Jan 12, 2011, 12:58 PM EST
From Clinton, MA. and always thought ( up till recently, that is) it was THE real IRISH town in MA. Also most of the Irish, 85%, in town,came from Louisburgh, Mayo, beside Croagh Patrick and Carramore Beach!! If returning to Ireland counts, I bet Clinton people would win, LOL!!
mcg10965 | Jan 12, 2011, 12:24 PM EST
Pearl River NY, Large population of Irish and Irish Americans,Second Largest St Patricks Day Parade in NY, Only GAA club to own their own field and field the largest number of football and hurling teams, Complete irish food section in shop
greengurl | Jan 12, 2011, 12:10 PM EST
The whole of Illinois is filled with people of Irish descent. My g-g-g-g-g-great grandfather was an Irishman who came over and fought in the Revolutionary War. (He was pensioned and has a DAR plaque on his grave.) He and a big group of Irish people moved with Daniel Boone's brother to Southeastern Illinois after the War because Tennessee had become too populated. We still call each other eejits and use phrases like, "that'll learn ya". I actually said, "That'll learn ya" to a friend of mine from Dublin and his head snapped back. He asked me where I heard that and I said everyone from back home says it. He said he'd only heard that in Ireland in the country. So, pick your towns in Massachusetts and New York and New Jersey. The whole of Illinois bleeds red, white, and blue, green, white, and gold.
eileen30 | Jan 12, 2011, 11:53 AM EST
How about Pearl River, NY? It hosts the 2nd largest St Patrick's Day Parade in NY.
Padraig8 | Jan 12, 2011, 11:21 AM EST
My Grandfather came over in 1885 and most of his relatives were in Chicago or cleveland (Mayo People) and the Ohio ,Illinois area is still full of them not a city but still a lot of us were raised in the traditional Irish way and still Celebrate our Irish Heritage.
MikeMaher | Jan 12, 2011, 11:14 AM EST
I'm not an easterner so my experience has led me to what I think is the most-Irish community -- Butte, Montana! However, I have no idea what the census says....
sully213 | Jan 12, 2011, 10:44 AM EST
What about Merrionette Park Ill. It is on the South Side of Chicago next to Beverly and MT Greenwood which also have large Irish populations but are part of Chicago.
mccourt1689 | Jan 12, 2011, 10:15 AM EST
I thought in Scituate that someone who wasn't of Irish heritage was a visitor or lost.
francisquinn | Jan 12, 2011, 10:10 AM EST
You really did your homework....Congratualtions... Good Job...
rhunter67 | Jan 12, 2011, 09:48 AM EST
Murph's might be right. I saw a stat that said Woodlawn has over 70% Irish. The problem is that most of the NY areas are part of the greater city. Your pretty dead on about Spring Lake too, particularly with the old Irish money.
MikeyMurphs | Jan 12, 2011, 09:18 AM EST
I thought per square mile and proper legitimate Irish and Irish Americans mixed together Woodlawn, Bronx claims the title with Katonah Avenue alone let alone the rest of the neighborhood ... but Spring Lake from my experience is still 80-90% Irish Americans (mostly old wall street money), with Breezy being about the same (but with many FDNY and NYPD, and working class Union men) ... tough choice, but never been to Mass.
diannerae | Jan 12, 2011, 09:09 AM EST
have never had the census people ask aboutmy heritage. How many generations back are they going on this poll. My last name is Mulcahy and my maiden name is Monaghan. My great grandfather was 10 years old when he came here and settled in PA near Pittsburg. I never pay much attention to polls without parameters stated.