Irish community in Digbeth

The presence of Irish people in Birmingham was first recorded in the 1600s.  However the first major waves of migration began in the 1820’s as large numbers immigrated to England in a bid to find work and escape poverty.   Even larger numbers began to arrive during the 1840’s to escape the devastation of the Great Famine.

   

During the 19th and early part of the 20th century every inner-city district of Birmingham had an Irish quarter or an Irish street. At the beginning of the 19th century large numbers of Irish people lived in the poorest parts of central Birmingham, gradually moving outwards as the city itself grew. In central parts of the city over 20% of the population were first generation Irish, while in parts of Digbeth the Irish population reached 55%. 

High unemployment in Ireland during the 1950s lead to another wave of migration, many migrants took up jobs building Birmingham's roads and housing estates.  Economic problems during the 1980s brought more Irish people and by the 1990s approximately 70,000 first generation Irish people were living in Birmingham.

Although the Irish community has dispersed across the city, many view Digbeth as their spiritual home.  There are a large number of Irish pubs in the area and the headquarters for the Irish community Forum. In addition Digbeth boasts the third largest St Patricks day parade after Dublin and New York.

The influence of the Irish community in Digbeth is now visually represented through a public artwork by Irish artist Dave Sherry situated at the entrance of the newly renovated Digbeth coach station.  The Irish Quarter Visual Artwork greets visitors with The sign  ‘A Hundred thousand welcomes’ A  translation of a traditional Irish greeting, in Gaelic ‘Cead mile failte’