Work

Irish citizens can live and work freely in Britain through a reciprocal agreement called the Common Travel Area.

Though usually but not exclusively white and English-speaking, Irish people still faced discrimination. Anti-Irish racism was common in British media and culture. Irish migrants often worked in industries where blacklisting was commonplace, such as in construction, meaning many trade unionists were frozen out of work opportunities.

While attitudes towards Irish people have improved, issues such as isolation, precarious work and discrimination against Irish Travellers persist to this day.

Limited access to education and economic independence alongside oppressive cultural expectations motivated many Irish women to seek better opportunities abroad.

Despite the high proportion of female Irish emigrants, their experiences have often been overlooked by historians.

These testimonies illustrate a remarkable legacy of civic and business leadership, NHS service and cultural and artistic innovation. They were our diaspora’s original community builders, often acting as the bridge between migrant family households and host communities as negotiators, leaders, homemakers, carers and activists.

Mass emigration has profoundly shaped Irish society, with huge movements of people undermining community cohesion and the local economy. However, the regular money that emigrants sent home supported many families. This was a lifeline for parish communities and boosted the Irish economy.

By the early 1960s, ‘remittances’ constituted 3.2 percent of Ireland’s national income. These figures only count money that was sent back officially, and it is thought that almost the same amount again was brought back by visiting emigrants in purses, wallets and envelopes.