The Irish Are Coming Sligo to Scranton 1850-1900 by Jim Dolan Published in 2008 by James J. Dolan, Sayre PA Typset by James J. Dolan Cover Illustration by James J. Dolan ISBN # 978-0-615-25084-7 LCCN www.sligotoscranton.com Printed by Clare Printing 206 S. Keystone Avenue Sayre, PA 18840 Copyright © 2008, James J. Dolan Table of Contents Table of Contents i Preface v Introduction vii Acknowledgements ix The Green Fields of Kilglass xi Part I Life in Ireland 1 Chapter 1: Location is Everything ................................................................ 1 Tireragh..................................................................................................... 2 Kilglass Parish........................................................................................... 2 The Townlands of Kilglass ....................................................................... 3 Enniscrone................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2: History Along Killala Bay........................................................... 6 Saint Patrick .............................................................................................. 7 The Vikings............................................................................................... 7 The Lords of Tireragh ............................................................................... 8 Cromwellian Settlement.......................................................................... 10 Mac Firbis ............................................................................................... 11 1798 Rebellion ........................................................................................ 12 Chapter 3: The Churches of Kilglass .......................................................... 17 Penal Laws.............................................................................................. 17 Early Churches of Kilglass...................................................................... 20 Church of the Holy Family (19th Century)............................................. 22 Present Day Church of the Holy Family ................................................. 24 The Church of the Blessed Mother Consumed into Heaven ................... 25 Chapter 4: The Schools of Kilglass............................................................. 27 Mac Firbis School ................................................................................... 27 Hedge Schools......................................................................................... 28 Valentine’s School .................................................................................. 29 National Schools ..................................................................................... 30 Chapter 5: The Tenant Farmer in Tireragh ................................................. 31 Poor Law Unions .................................................................................... 31 Griffith’s Valuation................................................................................. 31 Landlords ................................................................................................ 32 The Rent’s Due!...................................................................................... 34 Holdings.................................................................................................. 35 Politics and the Land............................................................................... 36 Evictions ................................................................................................. 39 Cottiers.................................................................................................... 43 Farming Practices.................................................................................... 43 Sea Manure ............................................................................................. 46 Kelp......................................................................................................... 47 i How’s the Weather?................................................................................ 48 Homes ..................................................................................................... 49 Work About the House............................................................................ 52 Diet.......................................................................................................... 54 Health Care ............................................................................................. 56 Seasonal Emigration ............................................................................... 56 Markets and Fairs.................................................................................... 57 Athletics .................................................................................................. 58 Marriage Customs ................................................................................... 59 Wakes and Funerals ................................................................................ 61 Chapter 6: Emigration................................................................................. 63 Getting Ready ......................................................................................... 65 Saying Goodbye...................................................................................... 65 The Voyage............................................................................................. 65 Arrival in New York ............................................................................... 67 Part II Life in Scranton 69 Chapter 1 – A Quick Introduction............................................................... 69 Lay of the Land....................................................................................... 70 How’s The Weather?............................................................................... 71 Chapter 2 – The Early History of Scranton................................................. 73 Indian Territory....................................................................................... 73 The First European Settlers..................................................................... 74 Anthracite Industry Starts Up.................................................................. 74 The Iron and Steel Industry..................................................................... 77 Railroads Spur Growth............................................................................ 79 The Anthracite Industry Digs In.............................................................. 81 Chapter 3 – Life in the City......................................................................... 83 Neighborhoods........................................................................................ 84 Religion................................................................................................... 86 Schools.................................................................................................... 90 Homes ..................................................................................................... 92 Diet.......................................................................................................... 97 Marriage.................................................................................................. 98 Health Care ........................................................................................... 100 The Company Store .............................................................................. 101 Women’s Work..................................................................................... 101 Wakes and Funerals .............................................................................. 103 Athletics ................................................................................................ 104 Chapter 4 - When Scranton Was Irish....................................................... 105 Politics................................................................................................... 107 Politics of the Homeland....................................................................... 111 Get Your Paper Here............................................................................. 112 Ancient Order of Hibernians................................................................. 114 The Temperance Movement ................................................................. 115 ii The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick ....................................................... 116 Saint Patrick’s Day................................................................................ 116 Chapter 5 – The Workplace ...................................................................... 121 Iron and Steel ........................................................................................ 121 The Mines ............................................................................................. 123 The Mills............................................................................................... 126 Labor Relations..................................................................................... 126 The Final Chapter – The Immigrants ....................................................... 131 The 1840s.............................................................................................. 133 The 1850s.............................................................................................