It is estimated that three-quarters of Liverpool’s population have some form of Irish roots or ancestry: some locals even refer to it as ‘the second capital of Ireland’.
Liverpool holds a music, theatre, literature, dance, performance, and film festival yearly to celebrate its Irish connection. The Liverpool Irish Festival usually occurs towards the end of October each year. The festival includes many art and music events celebrating Irish culture and the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail.
Liverpool and Glasgow have the most robust Irish heritage. This article will examine the Irish-Liverpool connection, which may be stronger than you think!
Dispelling the Myth
Many people say the Irish connection in the city is due to the Great Famine of the 1840s. Whilst this is partly true, a well-established Irish community was already in Liverpool before the famine. By the 1851 census, more than 20% of the population of Liverpool was Irish. As many had large families, it is thought that the population was much closer to 50%. 83000 Irish-born immigrants were in London then; Dublin and New York were the only places where the Irish population was more significant.
The city was a ‘staging post’ and a significant port for Irish and English migrants travelling to North America. Even then, according to records, the Irish made up around 17 percent of the city’s population. If you want to learn more about the Irish diaspora, read our blog post or check out our detailed article on EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin.
Then came the famine years, when over 2 million Irish citizens fled to the city within a decade of the Great Famine starting. Many of them would depart from here to the United States. To put it into perspective, that is almost the same number of people as the entire population of Northern Ireland in 1968.
Today, Liverpool is known as England’s most Catholic city, which is primarily thought to be a result of the influx of Irish immigrants during the
Liverpudlians may have the Irish to thank for their distinctive scouse accents. The accent has developed over time due to the large influx of Irish migrants who arrived in the city during the 19th century.
There are many variations of the accent, some adopting a softer tone while some sound more rough and gritty.
A unique sound that stands out in the Scouse accent is the letter ‘K’ becoming a ‘Keh’ sound, similar to the pronunciation of Irish Gaelic.
However, we can’t be sure the Irish were the sole originators, as hundreds of different nationalities constantly came and went on the docks and railways, which could have had an equal impact on the accent.
Liverpool: English Land, Gaelic Roots
Liverpool, similar to Ireland, has a rich and robust cultural identity, and people are proud to be from there. This is part of the reason why the Scouse accent is resistant to national changes.
For example, dialects in the rest of the UK constantly evolve due to emigration and national trends such as slang. The city’s people ignore these national trends and linguistically keep themselves to themselves.
The UK is a relatively small country, considering each region’s varied accents and even dialects. Many different ethnic groups have inhabited England for centuries, from Celts to Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and Romans, each influenced the language of their area. Despite English being the primary language across the country, these various cultures, alongside the arrival of many more inhabitants, such as the large Irish community in England, have created many unique and recognisable accents and dialects.
Accents are also a form of identity. Hearing them speak makes recognising someone from your home country or city easy. From the tone to the words unique to your specific dialect, how we use the same language to communicate can vary drastically. It also makes sense that when a person moves to a new country, especially when forced to leave because of hardships or a lack of opportunity at home, they want to preserve their cultural identity as much as possible while accumulating to their new life. This could be another reason why the UK has so many regional dialects.
Liverpool Football Club
A considerable part of the culture in the city of Liverpool is its world-famous football team, Liverpool Football Club. Historically, the club has a strong Irish connection, an essential facet of the club.
The first-ever manager of Liverpool was John McKenna, an Irish emigrant. In 1912, McKenna, when serving as Liverpool FC Chairman, made one of the club’s most significant signings. He was made aware of the intelligent goalkeeping abilities of young Ulsterman Elisha Scott.
The Belfast-born youngster was deemed too young to sign for neighbouring Merseyside club Everton FC, and McKenna showed faith in him by signing him at such an age.
Scott became the club’s longest-serving player (1912-1934).
Other notable Irish figures to play for Liverpool are Ray Houghton, John Aldridge, Jim Beglin, Steve Staunton, Mark Kennedy and Robbie Keane.
Thousands of Irish Liverpool supporters journey across the Irish Sea each week to support their team.
From Coleraine to Cork and Belfast to Ballyshannon, they all carry the same hopes and aspirations that their club can win football’s ultimate prize: the UEFA Champions League, which they have won an English record of 6 times.
More Famous Faces from Liverpool with Irish roots
Everton Football Club is another massive club whose stadium is a stone’s throw away from Anfield. It also has a strong Irish connection.
Some notable former players from Ireland include James McCarthy, Aiden McGeady, Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy, Seamus Coleman, Kevin Kilbane and Richard Dunne.
The most famous Liverpudlians of them all, The Beatles, claim to have Irish roots. George Harrison had an Irish mother, and Sir Paul McCartney had an Irish grandfather. John Lennon’s family were also believed to have emigrated from Ireland in the 19th Century.
Irish people who made history in Liverpool
Many Irish people made significant changes to the city throughout history. We will list a few of them below, as well as some Liverpudlians who changed Irish history:
- Michael James Whitty (1795-1873): Born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1795, Whitty founded the Liverpool police force in 1833. He also founded the Liverpool Fire Service and set up the Daily Post, a sister newspaper to the ECHO.
- Agnes Elizabeth Jones (1832-1868): Native of Fahan in county Donegal, Agnes Elizabeth Jones was the first trained Nursing Superintendent of Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary. She became known as ‘The White Angel’ as she reformed the harsh conditions and improved workers’ quality of life.
- William Brown (1784-1864): From Ballymoney Co. Antrim, Brown was a wealthy merchant who paid the total cost of building the library and museum in the city, now known as Liverpool Central Library and World Museum Liverpool. His contributions are remembered and celebrated as the buildings are on William Brown Street.
- Delta Larkin (1878-1949): Delta was born in Toxeth, an inner-city area of Liverpool. She was a suffragette who went to Ireland and founded the Irish Women Workers Union.
- James Larkin (1874-1947): A key figure in Irish history, Jim Larkin was born in Toxeth to Irish parents. His statue on O’Connell’s Street in Dublin is a tribute to his leadership during the fight for Irish Independence.
- Catherine (Kitty) Wilkinson (1786-1860): Born in Derry or Londonderry in 1786, Kitty moved to Liverpool as a child. She ensured that cleansing bedding and clothing in boiling water prevented cholera and saved many lives in the city.
Are you surprised by the number of Irish people who have made history in the city? Have we left anyone out who deserves a space on the list?
The city also has a history of links to unionism in Northern Ireland and is the only English city with a significant membership within the Orange Order. In 1999, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party Ian Paisley attempted but failed to establish a branch of the DUP in Liverpool.
In terms of historical architecture, the city has one vital link to the city of Belfast. The White Star Line headquarters were based on James Street, Liverpool, when their famous ship, The Titanic, sank on her maiden voyage.
The news of the disaster was read out from the balcony of this building in 1912, as mentioned in the video below.
Best Irish Pubs in Liverpool
Liverpool today still very much feels like an Irish city. Walking through Liverpool City Center, you will find dozens of Irish bars playing traditional Irish music and serving traditional Irish food and beverages. The Irish in the city have made their mark on the city over the years, and Irish pubs in Liverpool are just one example of this!
Below we have added some of the most popular Irish pubs in Liverpool, according to Tripadvisor:
McCooley’s
The most famous Irish bar in Liverpool is McCooley’s, which has two establishments: Concert Square and Matthew Street. If you’re looking for a full Irish breakfast or a pint of Guinness in the city, McCooley’s will be your first call of action.
Flanagan’s Apple
Flanagan’s is an Irish restaurant and bar that claims to have the best pint of Guinness in the city. The only way to know for certain is to try one! They also host live music and open mic nights, so your entertainment is sorted!
Molly Malones
The next pub on our list is named after Molly Malone, Dublin’s local legend. To find out more about Molly Malone and her statue in Dublin, read our Dublin Travel Guide.
With live Irish, Scottish, Contemporary and Party music, Molly Malones is a guaranteed good night out. With 6 big screens, you can sit back with a pint and enjoy the game. Taken over by a group from Donegal in 2016, Molly Malones has since strived to become Liverpool’s most authentic Irish bar.
What do you think about Liverpool’s Irish connection? Have you visited Liverpool or Ireland before? Let us know by commenting below!
Other Great ConnollyCove Blogs: Places to Visit in London | Best Buildings and Architecture in London | Things to do in London for Couples | Dublin or Belfast: which should you visit?
