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The most Irish town in America is named - It’s in Massachusetts to no one’s surprise

Sciatute, MA, is officially the most Irish town in the United States and with nearly 40 American's claim Irish heritage, that's impressive

MOLLY MULDOON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, January 10, 2011, 4:19 AM

Updated Sunday, March 17, 2013, 10:23 AM

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Sciatute Harbour, MA

Scituate, a pleasant seaside town thirty miles from Boston is the most Irish town in the United States according to the U.S census.

All in all 16 communities within the South Shore neighborhoods of Boston have the highest percentage of people of Irish descent in the United States.

Top of the list is Scituate, where almost 50 percent of residents are of Irish decent. At least 44 percent of the population in Braintree, Hull, Marshfield, Avon, Pembroke, and Milton claim Irish ancestry also.U.S. Census Bureau.

Scituate, on Cape Cod bay is also close to Plymouth Rock where the Mayflower arrived. It has a population of a little over 17,000

The data shows that the South Shore's "Irish Riviera" hasn't significantly changed since the last census in 1990.

Irish Americans continue to dominate the large majority of suburban Boston.

According to the 2005-2009 American Community Survey, 19 of the top-20 most Irish communities in Massachusetts are south of Boston.

A decade ago, showed similar results. These same towns were among the top Irish-American communities in the state of Massachusetts, according to the 2000 census.

Richard Finnegan, professor of political science and director of Irish studies at Stonehill College maintains that the South Shore has long been home to a large Irish community.

The migration of Irish families from Boston to the South Shore, dates back to the end of World War II, and continued through the 1950's and 60s.

Professor Finnegan says that many gravitated towards the South Shore because of geography.

"If you live in Dorchester or Hyde Park, you don’t think of moving to Swampscott,’’ he said. “Where will I move if I can get ahead and move up the social ladder? Quincy, Weymouth, and down the South Shore.," he told the Boston Globe.

He added that for many of the Irish in South Boston, Hyde Park and Dorchester, their natural migration was to move south, because that’s where they went in the summer.

“When you’re on the south side [of the city] and looking to rent a beach house for a few weeks, you go to the South Shore,’’ he said.

This same pattern continues today. “Families move where their family and friends are,’’ said Finnegan.

Most-Irish communities named

(The top 16 are all south of Boston)

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION:

47.5 Scituate
46.5 Braintree
45.8 Hull
45.6 Marshfield
44.9 Avon
44.9 Pembroke
44.6 Milton
44.5 Abington
44.3 Whitman
44.2 Hanover
43.4 Weymouth
43.0 Walpole
42.2 Holbrook
41.4 Duxbury
41.2 Norwell
40.8 Hanson
17.4 Boston
23.7 Massachusetts

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TTrain | Mar 07, 2013, 06:09 PM EST

Yes, the south shore is number one in the whole land ((though as of 2013 Braintree, Massachusetts might be right up there with Scituate, at 47% Irish, with Hull and Milton and Marshfield, Massachusetts, right behind, at roughly 42-44% each!))! Though as far as individual neighborhoods go, when it comes to most Irish Americans on this per capita basis, I believe Squantum, this coastal peninsula in the northern part of Quincy, Massachusetts ((and where I live!)), IS AT LEAST TIED with Breezy Point, Queens, AT NUMBER ONE in the land ((as Squantum is 58-62% Irish, this percentage that has held steady for roughly 20 years!))! One can thank that massive and continuous exodus of thousands of Irish Americans that came pouring out of both famous and well known Irish American strongholds, South Boston and Dorchester, back during the 70', 80's and 90's, FOR eventually putting Squantum into first place alongside Breezy Point ((as it definitely deserves much consideration for TOP Honors in this most coveted and esteemed department!)). Just go to wiki and other sites ((type in Squantum, Most Irish American neighborhood in the country!))! Though MOST IRISH town honors definitely go to Scituate and Braintree, Mass.!!!

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stevecavanagh | Feb 17, 2011, 05:03 PM EST

Thomas Francis Meagher was the first governor of Montana.He was the man who,with his own money,started the Irish Brigade in our civil war.Butte Montana has a bigger & better St.Patricks day parade then the one in NYC. I am a New Yorker by the way.

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itzwitchy | Jan 29, 2011, 06:57 AM EST

To the guy whining about the Irish in America not accepting the Scots-Irish: WAH WAH WAH! For well over a century and a half, the Scots-Irish did whatever they could to disassociate themselves from the poor Irish people who flooded the USA during the potato blights. The fact that this new immigrant nation was Catholic made it ever more important for the settled Scots-Irish to distinguish themselves from these undesirables. Thanks in large part to their ugly ministrations, it is the Scots-Irish who led the charge of refusing employment due to an applicant's Irish heritage. Both sets of my grandparents came from this noble Irish immigrant stock. My grandfathers each had college degrees from Holy Cross College, including academic honors designations. Both met with 'Irish Need Not Apply' signs upon completion of their studies. So, now that it's 'fashionable' to be Irish? You wish to share the glory in the 'troubles' my ancestors had to face and defeat in this country? Faggedaboutit. We will never consider the Scots-Irish in this country to be one of us; you are not. By the way, my own father got a degree from Holy Cross too. Then he got an MBA at Harvard and I grew up with all the horses I could ever wish to ride, a home in Sun Valley, Idaho where I could ski whenever I wanted and a waterfront 'compound' on Nantucket I escape to anytime I wish. I am currently visiting my parents and writing this message from their 20 acre horse farm in NJ. Neener Neener.

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Liamkeyes | Jan 18, 2011, 08:09 PM EST

Well, I'm on the first town of the North Shore, Winthrop but started out on the South Shore, Canton. Winthrop has a a large population that works in the Airport.

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pilib04 | Jan 15, 2011, 06:43 PM EST

"Irish Day Parade?" Talk about PC. What's a matter, St. Patrick's Day No more we keep???

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CitizenWhy | Jan 14, 2011, 07:26 PM EST

A shame about Scituate. Brian Cowan is in the process of taking ownership turning it over to a German bank as part of the deal to take care of his friends at Anglo-Irish bank. If you are of Irish descent, hide that fact. Otherwise Cowan will be after your property too.

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bleaver | Jan 13, 2011, 06:32 PM EST

There is a great little Inn right on the Harbor in Scituate with a quaint Irish Pub that serves the perfect pint of Guiness. Come on up and debate whether it's Scituate, Breezy Point or Spring Lake that's the most Irish. By the bye the Inn is owned by the Cooney's, Ferguson's, and Leaver's. Two out of 3 ain't bad.

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HoundofUlster | Jan 13, 2011, 08:38 AM EST

Is that an insult or an honor?

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ScullysSoulmate | Jan 12, 2011, 10:04 AM EST

Well I have to beg to differ, but what about Murphy's, California? That's where my wonderful Irishman Scully and I got married. He's traveled all over the world, including to all but 2 US States, and he thinks Murphys, with their shamrocks in the streets (that's right HUGE shamrocks painted in the streets), green and gold everywhere, and claim that the 1st non-Indian baby was born there, as opposed to anywhere else this side of the Rockies, is the spot. This used to be a little town that only bikers found attractive, but now, even in this economy, its a thriving "foothill" community with an Irish heart and soul. Check it out for yourself - I guarantee the Murphy's Irish Day Parade is worth seeing.

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bogsidebunny | Jan 12, 2011, 09:32 AM EST

Scituate may have a population, of which 50% claim Irish heritage......BUT, try this on for an "Irish-American" community: Murphy's Village....South Carolina.......... You're driving down the highway. As you pass the ramp to the interstate, you see a few gas stations scattered along the intersection. You continue down the highway through an undeveloped stretch of road. There are a few auto mechanic shops and a few industrial looking buildings. There are no retail chains or restaurants. It's a rough looking area that is in need of maintence. As you pass a mechanic shop with cars spread across a grassy field, you look next door. An enormous house that must be worth half a million dollars appears. It looks brand new and has paper taped over the windows. Nobody appears to live here. Why? Why build this beautiful home on a highway and in this area of town? Across the street is a bigger house. Next door to it is a brick mansion. In all, there are roughly ten mansions along the street. Side streets would probably reveal more. They all look new and they all have paper on the windows. No cars are in the driveways. You spot a mobile home parked behind one of the houses. Welcome to "Murphy Village" near North Augusta, South Carolina. Home of the Irish Travelers.

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tmartin914 | Jan 12, 2011, 09:28 AM EST

very interesting ~ great info!

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JennLois75 | Jan 11, 2011, 10:18 PM EST

@ jamieLM-----So where are these everything Irish towns at?

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jamieLM | Jan 11, 2011, 06:24 PM EST

Evidently the American Community Survey doesn't reach everyone. I know several small communities where everyone and everything is "Irish" and they're not in the East.

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adymdoe | Jan 11, 2011, 10:27 AM EST

I grew up in Scituate; I can confirm - it is definitely not diverse! A lot fo the Irish there came from Boston originally. Their families had summer homes on the South Shore. Once the Massachusetts Supreme Court implemented the bussing plan as a means to segregate the city's schools, many families winterized their summer homes and made Scituate their permanent home.

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ancavker | Jan 11, 2011, 09:14 AM EST

irisha And?? The state of Mass was founded by the English; what is your point?

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