Irish-American Heritage Month in March is a time to celebrate the contributions that Irish immigrants and their descendants have made to U.S. society. Virtually every realm of American endeavor from steelwork to biotechnology to literature has seen improvement through Irish-descended hands and minds.
The first recorded celebration of Irish-Americans dates back to 1762 with the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City. The parade became an annual event which was initially organized by military units but after the War of 1812, Irish fraternal societies took over the organization.
In October 1990, Congress passed Public Law 101-418 establishing March 1991 as Irish-American Heritage Month. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush issued for the first time a proclamation designating March as Irish-American Heritage Month.
Some 34 million Irish Americans are spread across every state in our nation. Most people know that Irish families came to America during the 19th century, but what often is not discussed is the anti-immigrant sentiment that was often faced by new Irish-Americans.
