NYPL Celebrates Irish American Heritage Month
Irish American Heritage Month is celebrated in March every year and honors the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States. The month of March was chosen to coincide with St. Patrick's Day on March 17, which is both a Catholic religious holiday and a national holiday in Ireland that has evolved into a celebration of all things Irish. Below are some ways to begin exploring materials at NYPL—blog posts, reading lists, Digital Collections, and more—related to Irish Americans created by our staff.
Blog Posts
The Irish In Us: A Quick Primer on Irish-American Genealogy Research
Advice from the librarians at the Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History, and Genealogy who regularly field questions on Irish American genealogy.
A Bit O' Blarney: Vintage St. Patrick's Day Postcards
Among the many treasures of The New York Public Library are vintage postcards, many with handwritten messages from the first few decades of the 20th century. Here's a sampling of postcards commemorating St. Patrick's Day.
Exploring the Irish American Experience Through the Emigrant Savings Bank Records
NYPL's Philip Sutton and professional genealogist Meryl Schumacker analyzed selections from the Library's collection of Emigrant Savings Bank records that reveal important details about the Irish immigration experience and serve as an essential tool for researchers tracing Irish ancestry.
Recommended Reading
Irish in America: A Fiction Reading List
Stories of starting over, navigating complex family relationships, and balancing a longing for home with hope for a new future.
Recent Reads from Irish Authors
From a break-up story told backwards to a murder mystery set in the Irish countryside, there's something on this list for everyone featuring some of today's best and brightest Irish writers.
Picture Books Celebrating Irish Stories
Here are a few of our favorites for youngest readers, from classic folklore to new and exciting titles!
What To Read If You're Missing 'Derry Girls'
Reading recommendations for fans of the show including Irish history, fiction set during the Troubles, and YA stories with strong group friendships.
Events
In-Person and Online
- Saturday Film Matinee: Brooklyn
Saturday, March 2, 2024, 1–3 PM, Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library - Book Discussion: Foster by Claire Keegan
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 6—6:45 PM, Woodlawn Library - 3-D Shamrock Craft (Tweens & Teens)
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 3:30–4:30 PM, Tompkins Square Library - St. Patrick's Day Craft (Kids)
Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 3:30—4:15 AM, Baychester Library
Find more St. Patrick's Day craft programs for kids at branch libraries - Beginning Irish Genealogy Research at the New York Public Library
Friday, March 15, 1–2 PM ONLINE - Music & Movement: St. Patrick's Day Jamboree (Toddlers)
Monday, March 18, 2024, 10:30—11 AM, Huguenot Park Library - Saturday Film Matinee: Leap Year
Saturday, March 30, 2024, 1–3 PM, Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library
- Saturday Film Matinee: Brooklyn
Online Exhibition
All This Mine Alone: Lady Gregory and the Irish Literary Revival
Discover this online exhibition—complete with audio guide—organized by The New York Public Library and curated by James Pethicia and Colm Tóibín that explores the legacy of Lady Gregory, one of the architects of modern Ireland. She was a woman of action, devoting her considerable energy to the founding and the success of the Abbey Theatre, Ireland's national theater. As a translator and cultural visionary, working with flair and dedication, she gave new life to Irish folk tales and sagas. Her house, Coole Park, in the west of Ireland, became a center of the Irish Literary Revival.
Digital Collections
Castles of Ireland
A collection of 50 cigarette cards featuring "ancient and modern" castles of Irelands.
Irish View Scenery
400 photographic cigarette cards with scenery around Ireland including abbeys, bridges, forts, rivers, parks, city streets, and more.
