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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................ i DEDICATION.................................................................................................................................. ,ii LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................................ iii LIST OF PLATES...........................................................................................................................iv LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................................vi GLOSSARY................................................................................................................................... viii TIM ELINE......................................................................................................................................... x ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 2 PRIMARY SOURCES AND METHODS USED IN THIS THESIS.................... 11 CHAPTER 3 THE IRISH IN LEEDS: THE SOCIAL, HISTORICAL & GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT OF THE STUDY.....................................................................................32 CHAPTER 4 EXPLAINING EMIGRATION................................................................................. 82 CHAPTER 5 ACROSS THE IRISH SEA: KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH HOME................. 123 CHAPTER 6 THE MYTH OF RETURN 150 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION ......... 177 APPENDICES A. M aps...............................................,........................................................................ 187 B. Photographs & Images.... ...................................................... ,193 C. Tables.................................................................... 224 D. Documents.............................................................................. 230 PERSONAL TESTIMONY. ................................... 236 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................248 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the course of researching and writing this thesis I have incurred a great many debts. First of all, a big thank you to my parents, brother and sisters and to my extended family on both sides of the foam, especially my ‘second family’ (the Gavaghan’s & Ciarán ‘the lodger’ Ferguson) who made me feel so at home in Leeds. Vicky, thanks for being so understanding, you now have my undivided attention. I am also indebted to the following people for their help without which this thesis would not have been possible: my supervisor John Tunney; Ant Hanlon, Anna Dunne and all at the Leeds Irish Health & Homes; Danny & Helen Kennally; Richard & Betty Conway and all at Davitt House; Tommy McLoughlin at the Leeds Irish Centre; Robert Finnegan at the Leeds Diocesan Archives; the staff at Leeds City Library (LCL) and at NUIG & GMIT libraries. I am grateful to Caitriona Clear at NUIG for initially pointing me in the right direction and for continued advice. Thanks also to Patrick O’Sullivan at the Irish Diaspora Research Unit, University of Bradford for providing me with useful contacts. Additional thanks to Anne Hopper for her assistance. Many friends have provided sound advice and invaluable support during the two years it has taken to complete this study: John ‘Ginger’ Rafter, Colm ‘Mole’ McLoughlin, Mike Diamond, Darren ‘Big Chief Coyne, Ray ‘Razor/Chunk’ Coyne, Owen ‘the Rock’ Donoghue, Wee Lee McDaid, Bob ‘Beebs’ Hennigan, Ian ‘Winston’ Davis, Gerry the Lamb, James Dineen & Leroy Marshall thanks for the academic assistance and hindrance. Particular thanks to John ‘Lovely Guinness’ Burke for overt criticism, wise counsel, editorial skills and friendship. And lastly and most especially to all those who invited me into their homes and shared with me so openly their life stories, I hope that I have used your testimony in a way that is respectful and truthful. Dedicated to my grandparents Conal & Bridget McGowan from Donegal & Martin & Ellen Ferguson from Mayo who emigrated to Leeds LIST OF FIGURES Page Fig. 3.1: Location o f Leeds....................................................................................................32 Fig. 3.2: Areas and Districts of Modem Leeds................................................................. 33 Fig. 3.3: Motorways constructed in the 1970s around Leeds........................................ 63 LIST OF PLATES Page Frontispiece: Isaac Charles Ginner [1878-1952], Leeds Canal, 1914. (Leeds City Art Gallery) PI. 3.1: Charles Cope’s view of Leeds, c. 1826. (S. Burt & K. Grady, The Illustrated History o f Leeds, 2002, p. 128).......36 PI. 3.2: Old St. Patrick Catholic Church, off Burtmanhofts St., 1922. (Local Studies Department, LCL).....................................................................37 PI. 3.3: Old St. Patrick Catholic Church, off Burtmanhofts St., 1999. (Local Studies Department, LCL).....................................................................,38 PI. 3.4: View looking along Tab St. upwards to Richmond Hill. (S. Burt & K. Grady, The Illustrated History o f Leeds, 2002, p. 183)...... 38 PI. 3.5: An engraving of the procession of the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) on his way to open Leeds Exhibition. (London Illustrated News, 30/05/1868)...........................................................44 PL 3.6: Leeds Union Workhouse, Beckett St., Leeds. (Local Studies Department, LCL).....................................................................46 PI. 3.7: The Cathedral Church of St. Anne’s (1838-1899), Cookridge St. (Unknown Source)................................................................................................50 PL 3.8: The replacement St. Anne’s Cathedral completed in 1904, Cookridge St. (Photograph by Author)........................................................................................ 50 PI. 3.9: St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Harehills Rd. (Photograph by Author).........................................................................................50 PI. 3.10: Opening of the new Leeds Irish Centre on York Rd., 8th June 1970. (Local Studies Department, LCL)......................................................................,64 P!. 3.11: Slab laid by the Leeds Irish Community in 1995 to commemorate ‘The Great Hunger’. (Photograph by Author).........................................................................................74 PI. 5.2: Telegram sent from Mayo to Leeds, on occasion of wedding, 1974. (Author’s Collection)...........................................................................................130 PI. 5.3: Irish Cross Channel Passenger Services Timetables, 1955. (www.movinghere.org catalogue reference (PRO) RAIL 910/1)............. 137 PL 6.1: Killingbeck Cemetery on York Rd. (Local Studies Department, LCL).....................................................................151 v LIST OF TABLES Page Table 3.1: Census of 1881: Inmates of Leeds Union Workhouse, Beckett St. (Census o f Population o f England and Wales: 1881).....................................46 Table 3.2: Irish-born population of Leeds (Borough): 1841 -1921 (Census of Population o f England & Wales: 1841-1921)............................. 47 Table 3.3: Irish-born Population of Leeds (Borough): 1931-1981 (Census o f Population o f England & Wales'. 1921-1981)............................. 58 Table 3.4: Leeds wards with highest concentration of Irish-born in 1981 (Census o f Population o f England & Wales'. 1981)....................................... .65 Table 4.1: Number of Overseas Emigrants from Ireland (32 Counties): 1825-1860 (Reports of the Commission of Emigration and Other Population Problems, 1948-54)................................................................................................84 Table 4.2: Irish-born residents in Britain: 1931-81 (Census o f Population o f England & Wales'. 1931-1981)............................. 85 Table 4.3: Decennial breakdown of respondents first year of departure (Interviews with respondents)..............................................................................87 Table 4.4: Annual net emigration from Ireland: 1926-1981 (P. J. Drudy, ‘Migration between Ireland and Britain since Independence’, in P. J. Drudy (ed.), Irish Studies 5: Ireland and Britain Since 1922, 1986, p. 109)....................................................................................................................... 88 vi Table 4.5: Irish-born Population of Leeds (Borough): 1931-1981 [Census o f Population o f England & Wales: 1921-1981)............................. 97 Table 4.6: Irish-born population in England: selected cities: 1951-81 (Census o f Population o f England & Wales: 1951-81)................................ 102 Table 6.1: Net in-migration of older people (65+) for intercensal periods 1946-81 (Nessa Winston, The Return of Older Irish Emigrants: An assessment of needs and issues, 2002, p. 31)...........................................................................152 Table 6.2: Older (65+) Irish-born persons who resided abroad for 1 year or more by year of taking up residence in Ireland and country of previous