Coatbridge Irish

Coatbridge is an urban town located on the eastern fringes of Glasgow, Scotland. The town quickly expanded during the late 18th century as a centre of iron making, in part because it had a direct canal link to Glasgow. Cheap unskilled labour was in large demand and as result the town became a popular destination for vast numbers of Irish arriving in Scotland during this period. One local historian estimates that 1,000 per week were arriving in west of Scotland at one point. Coatbridge today is well known as a working class town which has been described as "little Ireland".^[1]

History of the Irish community in Coatbridge

The Irish first began arriving in Coatbridge in the early 19th century. During this period there was great tension between the new immigrants and the native miners.^[2]. The 1851 census notes that the Irish born population in Coatbridge made up a total of 35.8% of the population. However it should be acknowledged that a significant proportion of these emigrants would have been Protestant. Sectarian strife was a feature of the 19th century Coatbridge. In 1857 there were reports of riots between local Catholics and Protestants.^[3] The New York Times reported on serious "riots" between local Catholics and Orangemen which occurred during 1883.^[4]

According to James Handley,^[5] by 1901, the percentage of Irish born in Coatbridge had fallen to around 15%, but remained the highest of all the major towns in Scotland. Handley's figures excluded the offspring of Irish-born migrants and Handley argues that taking into consideration the culturally higher birth rates of Irish Catholic families at this time the true figure of Irish population in Coatbridge at this time was in fact much greater.

In the late 19th century the largest and most generous Irish Home Rule organization in Britain was found in Coatbridge.^[6][7]

19th century writers Andrew Miller^[8] and the Coatbridge poet Janet Hamilton both refer to the Irish in Coatbridge. Modern day writer Des Dillon also writes at length about the descendants of the 19th century Irish immigrants in present day Coatbridge.

The formation of Whifflet Shamrock in 1888 suggests an attempt to set up a team to represent the Coatbridge Irish community^[9]. The now deceased Patrick Sarsfield hurling club was set up in 1902^[10] with the Éire Óg club conceived a few years later.^[11] Éire Óg went on to win the league title in 1909.^[12] Owen Roe O'Neill Gaelic Football Club was founded in the town in 1912.^[13]

In 1919 three branches of Sinn Féin were in existence.^[14] There was also a Gaelic League branch (Canon O'Keefe branch) in the town in 1901. In the 1950 general election the Irish Anti-Partition League put up a candidate in the constituency covering Coatbridge. There is also quite a large Orange heritage in Coatbridge with Men's and Women's Lodges and various flute bands including Lily Of The Valley and Prince of Orange.

General estimates that at least 60% of the population of Coatbridge have Irish Catholic backgrounds are based upon census figures, factors such as high number of Catholic church parishes in the town (nine) and the fact that there are currently two Catholic secondary schools and one 'non-denominational' school. Religious statistics gathered in the 2001 census are not available on the census website due to 'risk' and the statistics being deemed 'sensitive data',^[15] but Catholicism was recorded at just over 50%.

In 2006, Coatbridge (along with Port Glasgow and Clydebank) was voted 'the least Scottish town in Scotland' due to having the highest percentage of Irish names in the country. Reportedly more than 28% of adults in Coatbridge had names with Irish origins, ironically the most Scottish place in Scotland, Barra, is the most Catholic place in Scotland as well.^[16][17]

Current Irish immigration to Coatbridge

The 2001 census recorded that currently less than 1% of the population of Coatbridge are Irish-born.^[18]

Current culture and sport

The Irish in Coatbridge have been a significant influence on the town's social, political and cultural life. In recent years there has been increased interest in the Irish cultural heritage of the town. Evidence of this can be seen in the St. Patrick's 10 day long festival (sponsored by the Irish government) and visits from members of the Irish government such as president Mary McAleese. On her last visit Mary McAleese described Coatbridge as the 'heart of Ireland in Scotland'. Currently there are four Irish dance schools in the area, regular Irish classes, a Gaelic football team (Sands MacSwiney, formed 1986) and an Irish Genealogy Project. St Patrick's Chapel is situated on the main street of Coatbridge and forms a hub of Irish activity in town hosting regular Irish quiz nights and shows of Irish themed films.

In 2006, Coatbridge (along with Port Glasgow and Clydebank) was voted 'the least Scottish town in Scotland' due to having the highest percentage of Irish names in the country. More than 28% of adults in Coatbridge had names with Irish origins^[19] incidentally, Barra, the most Scottish place in Scotland is overwhelmingly Catholic compared to Coatbridge's slight majority. In 2008 Coatbridge was subject of an hour-long RTE documentary regarding the Irish culture of the town^[20].

Perhaps the most obvious link with between Coatbridge and Ireland are the numerous Celtic F.C. supporters' clubs operating in the area. Phil Coles Celtic supporters club holds a legendary place in the folklore of Coatbridge Celtic supporters. Coatbridge is noted as a particular hotbed of Celtic Support. A number of locals have also played professionally for the club including Gerry Creaney, Peter Grant, Peter McNamee and European cup medal winner, John 'Yogi' Hughes.

St. Patrick's Day festival

The Saint Patrick's Day Festival in Coatbridge commenced in 2003 with a single event and has run every year since. The festival has grown and by 2007 it included an art exhibition, thearte, sports, music, film, street festival and dance events. The festival now runs for 10 days and each year the day-long Saturday street-party in Main Street with Irish music and Irish dancing is the festival highlight. In 2006 9,000 people took part in the festival.^[21]

St. Patrick's Day Festival Saturday in Coatbridge 2009.

Guinness Diageo and the Irish government both sponsor the event. Irish President Mary McAleese visited Coatbridge in 2007. In 2006 Des Dillon's anti-sectrian play "Singin' I'm no a Billy he's a Tim" was performed at St. Bartholomew's Church hall.

Coatbridge accent

In 'Celtic minded'^[22] Des Dillon wrote about the notion of a separate Coatbridge accent influenced by the successive waves of Irish immigrants into the town. The Coatbridge accent has been categorised as generally less usage of the Scots tongue and the tendency to stress the 'a' vowel differently, e.g. stair (sterr), hair (herr), fair (ferr) etc. and this is attributed to the impact of successive influxes of Irish immigrants. Another notable language trait practised commonly in Coatbridge is the use of the 'reaffirmative' after a sentence, e.g. "I need to go up the street tomorrow so I do," or "Tommy Tango's is always open so it is". This use of the re-affirmative is still extremely common in Northern Ireland.

Notable people

Notable residents representing the links between Ireland and Coatbridge have included Margaret Skinnider (1893–1971) who was a Coatbridge teacher who fought in the Irish 1916 Easter Rising acting variously as scout and sniper before being wounded in action. She went on to become paymaster general of the Irish Republican Army^[23]. Dr. Charles O'Neill from Coatbridge represented South Armagh as the member of parliament.^[24]. Eddie McAteer who was born in Coatbridge was perhaps the most important nationalist political figure in pre-troubles Northern Ireland.^[25] Danny Hegan, born in Coatbridge, played international football for Northern Ireland.^[26]

See also

References

1. ^ The Population of Monklands in the 1980s. Monkland Library Services Dept. (1985) – Peter Drummond. P.7
2. ^ A Century of the Scottish People, 1830-1950. T.C. Smout. Fontana Press (1997)
3. ^ The Irish in Scotland - James Handley, 1962, Burns. p.255-6
4. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E04E7DD133BE033A25752C2A96E9C94629FD7CF
5. ^ The Irish in Scotland, 1962
6. ^ Religion and Identity: The Irish World Wide: Volume 5‎ - Page 158 by Patrick O'Sullivan 1996
7. ^ The Irish in Britain: From The Earliest Times To the Fall and Death of Parnell - John Denvir, London, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd. P.417
8. ^ 'Coatbridge Its Rise and Progress'
9. ^ http://www.statto.com/football/teams/whifflet-shamrock
10. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Association and irishness in Scotland - JM Bradley, Mainstream 2007 p.43
11. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Association and irishness in Scotland - JM Bradley, Mainstream 2007 p.58
12. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Association and Irishness in Scotland - JM Bradley, Mainstream 2007 p.61
13. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Association and Irishness in Scotland - JM Bradley, Mainstream 2007 p.64
14. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Association and Irishness in Scotland - JM Bradley, Mainstream 2007 p.71
15. ^ http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/analyser/analyser?actionName=choose-topic-and-table
16. ^ http://news.scotsman.com/scotlandspopulation/Island-takes-title-of-most.2809389.jp
17. ^ http://originsinfo.com.au/pdf/Sunday_Times_Scot_Barra_the_most_Scottish_place_060910.pdf
18. ^ http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/thematicmapping/thematicmap.jsp?mode=normal&pixelWidth=420&topic=4&variable=KS05%7Cdata6%7C1%7C%25+of+people+born+in+Republic+of+Ireland&operator=plus&topic2=1&variable2=KS01%7Cdata1%7C1%7C1991+Resident+population+-+All+people&area=15%2C60&detailedLevelId=7&rangeType=Frequency+Distribution&numRanges=5&minColor=4&minRed=128&minGreen=221&minBlue=0&maxColor=5&maxRed=0&maxGreen=128&maxBlue=255&tableRequired=on
19. ^ http://originsinfo.com.au/pdf/Sunday_Times_Scot_Barra_the_most_Scottish_place_060910.pdf
20. ^ http://www.rte.ie/radio1/theirishexperience/1243060.html)
21. ^ St. Patrick's Festival Coatbridge 2007 programme - minuteman press, 2007 p.2
22. ^ Ed. Joseph M. Bradley, 2004
23. ^ http://www.searcs-web.com/skinn.html
24. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Association and Irishness in Scotland - JM Bradley, Mainstream 2007 p.61
25. ^ Northern Ireland Parliamentary Elections Results: Biographies
26. ^ Danny Hegan, Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats.

Further reading

• Monks - Des Dillon
• Doing my bit for Ireland - Margaret Skinnider, (1917) New York, century Press
• The Irish in Scotland - James Handley
• Celtic Minded - Joseph M. Bradley (Ed.)

External links

• Coatbridge St. Patrick's Day Festival website
• Sands McSwiney GAA (Coatbridge)
• Coatbridge Irish Genealogy Project