Pittsburgh Irish: Erin on the Three Rivers

by Gerard F. O'Neil, Diane V Byrnes (Foreword)

Presbyterians from the Irish province of Ulster were among the first to push the wild frontier west and found the city of Pittsburgh. By the 1840s, the flow of Irish Catholic immigrants had become a flood. Fleeing the great hunger and facing resentment in the city, they established themselves as key members of the community, building railroads and canals and establishing schools, hospitals and fraternal orders. During the Civil War, 156 women, many of them Irish, made the ultimate sacrifice for their new country when the Allegheny Arsenal exploded. The Fenians fought Southern Rebels under a green flag and made a little-known invasion of Canada in 1866. In the twentieth century, the sons and daughters of Erin took on roles as political leaders, labor agitators and entrepreneurs. Exploring tales of saints, sinners and visionaries, author Gerard F. O'Neil offers a beguiling and fascinating history of the Pittsburgh Irish.

Genres: History

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2015

Reviews

[Stephanie Lawton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super excited to find information on Presbyterian Irish in Pittsburgh. Most sources usually focus on Catholic Irish (and assume all Irish are Catholic). This gave me some incredible insight into my ancestors' experience in the 'Burgh. It also helped turn some conventional tales on their heads. Well worth the read if you're interested in Irish history, Pittsburgh history, or really, any history. Well-researched (with sources!) and well-written. Bravo, Mr. O'Neil!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched. It's a niche topic, but if it's a topic that's of interest to you, you will find this book to well-written and fascinating. I started off thinking I was only interested in a couple of chapters for research I was doing, but went back and read the whole thing.
I think it would be enjoyable to anyone interested in the history of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, immigrant or specifically Irish immigrants.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I met Gerry in the Public History Master's Program at Duquesne University. He kept mentioning his "book" but I had no idea it was about the Irish in Pittsburgh. I am mostly interested in the early history of the Irish in the city, and Gerry delivered.