Periscope


Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Ellis Island footage of Irish arriving reminds us of where we all came from
Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Ellis Island footage of Irish arriving reminds us of where we all came from

Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 04:07 PM
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail
comment on article 18 Comments
 

RSS


Recent Posts

Archives

submit to reddit

In a week where President Obama visited the Mexican border area to discuss immigration it is no harm to look back on the 125th anniversary of Lady Liberty and our own roots.

The film below is from 1906 on Ellis Island and is entitled Irish arrive on Ellis island, called Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears by the Irish.

Whether they are all Irish I don't know, perhaps a ship had just arrived from Cork.

We see them carrying their life possessions in little suitcases, facing a new world full of uncertainties.

About halfway through a little girl walks by, and I wonder what became of her. She must have looked on that long trip from Ireland as a great adventure, and was probably glad it was now over.

I think I see her again in the second frame, waiting for someone.

The emigrants are clearly through Ellis Island and the medical exam and have been reunited with their possessions and are heading for Manhattan aboard the ferry.

They must be so happy to finally find their path open to a new life in America

Where did they all end up?

Is there someone there now related to one of these brave souls facing their brave new world?

I don't know, but in a week where emigration was once more on the people's lips it is good to look back and remember where 100 million of us came from, through Ellis Island.




print this article Print
email this articleE-mail

18 Comments

See all comments

eddies1st | May 16, 2011, 09:43 PM EDT
The irish had a very hard time when they landed in America. No one wanted to hire them. In most of the help wanted ads it would state no irish need apply.

Report abuse

emer333 | May 16, 2011, 11:57 AM EDT
Without reading the article, and just going by the title: No, we did not all come from Ellis Island. FYI. My ancestors all come into Philadelphia, for different reasons, at different times, under different circumstances. Pre-U.S.Civil War/ Past-Irish Holocost, 1851, a family came to Philadelphia and became US citizens soon after denouncing and severing any relationship with the queen. After 1900, pre 1916 single members arrived into Philadelphia for the work opportunity, hoping to return "home". An uncle arrived circa 1960 for the same reason, going to England first, then Philadelphia, leaving siblings in Ireland. People went to NY for cheaper rates, and were the most poor entering the USA. More poorer people went to Canada, and the coffin ships tell the story. Many died on the voyage, were buried at sea, or soon after arrival in Canada, hence the monuments there.

Report abuse

Irishlassred | May 14, 2011, 08:47 PM EDT
The choice of Mary Black singing Ellis Island, and this video, is amazing. Mary is such a terrific performer! My Nana arrived at Castle Gardens, not Ellis Island, but I can image her in this video -

Report abuse

McNamara31 | May 13, 2011, 10:04 PM EDT
Thanks Trealach. Sorry I misunderstood. Have a good weekend.

Report abuse

Trealach | May 13, 2011, 06:31 PM EDT
@McNamara - I think you may have misunderstood the intent of what I said with the use of the inverted commas 'honest citizens'. I was merely differentiating between those who were "Free" to go to the US and those who were "Forced". There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that many of those deported were decent honest Irish citizens, caught in the desperate act of feeding their child because of the British "Intentional neglect".

Report abuse

oaklongan | May 13, 2011, 02:12 PM EDT
Great-Great Grandparents came from Belfast, settling in the Midwest. Great-Grandfather John left the family to become a farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada, married again. Have an old photo of Great-Grandpa John with Grandpa on his lap and sister (Helen) on Great-Grandmother Vanessa's lap; nice-looking, healthy people all. Have an old photo of my Mother on a sled, hands in a white rabbit muff Great-Grandpa John sent her from Canada.

Report abuse

McNamara31 | May 13, 2011, 01:05 PM EDT
There were no (federal) legal or illegal immigration laws till the early 1900's; the doors were wide open to all to emigrants and America took them gladly. It wasn't until the economy or gold in California became more limited, that certain states individual immigration laws, targeting certain groups (like the Chinese), began to pop up around the country. The vast amount of Irish immigrants were able to come to America because the famine and the bad times for years after, occurred at a time in history when America was accepting large numbers of immigrants to do the mining, domestic and factory work the immigrants were glad to fill. And yes Trelach after the British starved the Irish using "intentful neglect", they were quite glad to deport a parent for stealing a loaf of bread for their child. I would still call them honest and also loving parents.

Report abuse

Trealach | May 13, 2011, 12:41 PM EDT
Many of those who 'emigrated' from Ireland were deported by the British for petty crimes, such as stealing a loaf of bread. Not ALL were 'honest citizens' seeking a different life.

Report abuse

furrydog | May 13, 2011, 12:24 PM EDT
My great grandparents came over one from Dublin and one for Wexford. Then two grandfathers came later at age 14 bt themselves. Courageous all of them to start anew and early ages.

Report abuse

kiernan | May 13, 2011, 12:15 PM EDT
The key word is "legal" immigrants. How would it would it work if I decided to sneak into Ireland, demand the same rights, medical care, pensions, etc of Irish citizens? I believe they would either lock me up put me back on the first boat to where I came from. Legal immigration is fine - but it must a fair, orderly, controlled process - not everyone rushing for the border at once.

Report abuse

McNamara31 | May 13, 2011, 11:35 AM EDT
jack4950.. Another beautiful story. This is when IC is at its best; giving us the opportunity to remember those who meant so much to us.

Report abuse

Maverick | May 13, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT
Lovely story. I seen the wee girl getting on the ferry at the near end of the clip with another wee fella. Also these people are very well dressed to be poor irish people! Maybe immigrant's from a rich country?

Report abuse

jack4950 | May 13, 2011, 11:19 AM EDT
My mother came from Galway, age 14, went right to work as a domestic. landed in Boston, stayed there, never learned to read nor write but her son has a Masters and is now a Priest. Good for you Bridget Nee Reid . Father John Joseph Reid, Wilton Manors, Florida

Report abuse

McNamara31 | May 13, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT
donal 1951 Beautiful story.

Report abuse

donal1951 | May 13, 2011, 10:24 AM EDT
My father got off the boat from what was then Queenstown in 1928. He had been preceded by several siblings and other relatives, so unlike some immigrants he was not friendless. He never did find a pot of gold in America, but lived a very interesting life and was a marvelous story teller and teacher to me of my Irish heritage. We had the pleasure of travelling to Ireland together to meet family and friends, and later visited relatives who'd emigrated to the UK. He returned to Ireland to die and is buried in County Galway.

Report abuse





Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password
Not a member? Register Now!
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail