Irish history has deep roots in Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Irish history in the United States dates back roughly 200 years, with significant waves of immigration peaking during the Great Famine and continuing through the 20th century.

Patrick Miller, a professor at Monroe Community College, shared insights into the first Irish family to settle in Rochester in 1817.

“A gentleman by the name of James Dowling purchased, with some friends, a piece of property that is now where the Genesee Brewery stands,” Miller said.

Before the American Brewery called the site home, it was a lumber mill. Many Irish families were used to hard labor, so they took on the working class jobs upon immigrating to the U.S.

While Irish immigrants are often associated with the construction of the Erie Canal, their involvement was more significant in its maintenance and expansion. “It’s not fair to say that it was built by the Irish. That is, that is not true,” Miller explained. A large portion of workers at the time were German.

The canal and working-class opportunities made Rochester a popular destination for Irish immigrants. By the end of the Civil War, the city’s population was about 14% native Irish, with estimates suggesting that the total Irish population, including descendants, was around 20%. That made Rochester, at the time, one of the most Irish cities in the country.

The Irish immigrants also contributed to the establishment of the first Catholic churches in the area, such as St. Patrick’s and St. Mary’s.

According to the 2023 U.S. Census, more than 30 million Americans, or about 9%, claim Irish ancestry. Additionally, over 117,000 foreign-born Americans reported Ireland as their birthplace.

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