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From Immigrants to Expats: The Irish Who Built America
Dear Hyphenly readers,
Since 1820, an estimated six million Irish immigrants arrived in the United States. In fact, between 1851 and 1860, 81% of all U.S. immigrants were Irish. That wave was driven largely by necessity: the devastating Great Famine left millions in Ireland starving, unemployed, and desperate for better opportunities abroad.
They were, by every definition, refugees.
But in the United States, they were seen as a nuisance. Predominantly Catholic in a largely Protestant country, Irish immigrants faced suspicion, hostility, and discrimination. Many Americans feared they would "steal" jobs, and as a result, the Irish were often relegated to the most dangerous, low-paying labor—digging canals, laying rail lines, and working in textile mills.
Despite the backlash, Irish immigrants were instrumental in building the infrastructure that powered American expansion: the Erie Canal in New York, the New Basin Canal in New Orleans, dams across the Connecticut River Valley, and more. Their legacy is quite literally built into the bones of American cities. Want to read more? We suggest this article.
Today, you might associate Ireland with St. Patrick’s Day parades and pints of Guinness. But the country is also at the forefront of a literary renaissance and making major waves in Hollywood. In fact, many of the internet’s favorite actors hail from the Emerald Isle. Think: Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Saoirse Ronan, Cillian Murphy—the list goes on.
Ireland’s rich cultural history, resilience, and sharp sense of irony have produced some of the world’s most distinct literary voices and artists. And if you're looking for your next read—something laced with biting humor, emotional complexity, and taut storytelling—Naoise Dolan should be at the top of your list.
She’s Irish. She’s in her mid-twenties. And she’s often compared to Sally Rooney due to her sardonic tone and deadpan prose.
In her debut novel Exciting Times, we follow 21-year-old Ava as she leaves Ireland to teach English in Hong Kong. There, she falls into an emotionally fraught relationship with Julian, a charming English banker, and later becomes entangled with Edith, one of Julian’s friends and a high-powered lawyer.
Through Ava’s eyes, Dolan deftly unpacks the legacies of colonialism and Catholicism—two forces that have long shaped Irish identity. When Ava meets Julian’s friends, they jokingly call her upbringing “quaint” and assume she’s a socialist—microaggressions that hint at deeper class and cultural tensions.
But here’s what really stood out: Ava refers to both herself and Julian as “expats” in Hong Kong. This language raises an interesting question. In the 1820s, the Irish were “immigrants”—marginalized and mistreated as they sought opportunity abroad. Now, an Irish woman living abroad is simply an “expat”? What changed?
Here’s Saadia discussing the difference between immigrants and expats. What do you think of this take? Find us on our socials and comment!
Still, Exciting Times is a sharp, compulsively readable novel and perfect for fans of modern love stories, “situationships,” complicated female friendships, and introspective journeys toward self-acceptance. If you read it, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Culture Check-In: We want to hear from you!
Who is your favourite Irish musician?If we missed your favourite in this list, share them with us. |
Podcast Pick of the Week
Want to hear about Oscar nominated films (including Oppenheimer?). Head to Banterly to hear our Gen Z hosts Aditi and Adrian discuss what makes a film “Oscar worthy.”
This newsletter was curated by Suhasini Patni.
Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.
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