Birmingham has long-built a reputation for our ridiculously fun St. Patrick’s Day parade, and the dinner benefits, live concerts, green beer, and lots of joy that comes throughout the entire week surrounding the holiday–but where does the Magic City actually rank amongst the nation’s most Irish cities? We take a look at where some of Alabama’s largest cities rank, and a deeper dive into Birmingham’s Irish history below.
This fun list we found didn’t just base their Irish rankings on population alone, but also used factors like the number of Irish restaurants and pubs, cultural events, and cultural groups and organizations to determine their most Irish cities. The top 5 featured a list of some very well-known Irish cities with Boston (#1), Chicago (2), New York (3), Pittsburgh (4), and Chicago’s neighboring suburban city Naperville (5) taking the highest spots. The last 5 cities on the list are Newark (New Jersey), Santa Ana (California), Brownsville and Laredo (Texas), and Hialeah (Florida).
Huntsville and Mobile lead the way for Alabama cities, coming in at #77 and #117 on the list respectively. Birmingham slides in not too far behind the Azalea City at a modest 172, with Montgomery right after at #175. While the Magic City didn’t show up in the top 100, it’s safe to say that the Magic City’s dedication to celebrating the holiday–along with organizations like the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society–still make it a top town to enjoy the long and storied history of Irish women and men who traversed the seas to start new lives in a new country.
As this great article by The Irish Echo (the oldest Irish American newspaper) showcases, the Irish history in Alabama hasn’t always featured the largest crowds–but does include a dedicated group of people who proudly live their heritage despite often facing hateful consequences for doing so. Heroes like Father James E. Coyle had their lives taken for courageously speaking up for love, and left a lasting justice-focused imprint on the state that they called home. Coyle’s 1921 funeral was one of the largest the city had ever seen, and his Birmingham grave includes a 10-foot Celtic cross. There have been many businesses, restaurants, and pubs across Alabama over the years that entertained and uplifted the neighborhoods and communities around them on a daily basis.
We’re thankful for the diverse groups of figures, both past and present, that have shaped our city into a more wonderful place for all–and continue to do so. We hope everyone is able to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in some way, Birmingham is a wonderful city to do so.
Cover image from Unsplash
