In celebration of Irish Heritage Month, here are some
interesting facts about Irish ancestry in America. Irish
American Population Statistics - There are 34.5 million people
who claim Irish ancestry in America - Approximately 11% of the
total United States population is Irish American - There are
over 7 times more people of Irish descent in the United States
than the entire population of Ireland History of Irish
Immigration to America There were 2 major waves of Irish
immigration to America. - The first immigration period was in
the Colonial era of the 18th century. These people set sail from
the northern provinces of Ireland looking for new lives as
American pioneers. The migration consisted of approximately
250,000 Scots-Irish who were predominately Protestant. The major
ports of entry for these incoming Irish immigrants were in New
York and Philadelphia. - The second wave of immigration was
between 1846 and 1900. During this period approximately
2,873,000 people fled to America from the southern provinces