Experience of Catholic Irish Immigrants in Scotland Flashcards
Where did Irish Catholic immigrants live in Scotland?
Many left to eascape povery, so settled in places which offered job opportunities. For example, places on the west coast like Glasgow, which offered factory work and jobs near the ports.
What kinds of Jobs did Catholic Irish immigrants work?
Many Irish people travelled to Scotland during busy times to take advantage of the seasonal job opportunities. They found work in factories, ports and during harvests. For example, many became dock workers in places like Dundee.
What did the Irish ‘navvis’ do in Scotland?
These were seasonal workers and when they were needed, would travel around Scotland helping to develop infrastructure. For example, they helped to build railways across Scotland.
What prevented many Catholic Irish immigrants from getting better paying jobs?
Some only had very little education and couldn’t speak english, meaning they had to take low paying jobs. This caused resentment amongst Scots who beleived they were taking their jobs. For example, they worked in places like factories and shipyards, with poor working conditions.
In what other ways did Catholic Irish immigrants find work?
Some set up their own companies, which provided jobs for other Irish immigrants and allowed them to leave poor areas. For example, Thomas Lipton was the son of Irish immigrants and set up a tea shop business in Glasgow.
What were Catholic Irish immigrant’s housing conditions like?
Many were extremely poor and lived in areas with very poor housing conditions. These areas had poor sanitiation and overcrowding, leading to the spread of diseases. For example, near half pf all Irish families in Scotland lived in single ends, which had multiple people living in one house.
How did Irish Catholics keep their ‘personal identity’ while living in Scotland?
To help Irish Catholic immigrants practice their faith after migrating, more catholic churches were set up. The churches not only aided in letting Irish Catholics practice their religion, but also helped Irish immigrants find jobs and hosuing. For example, they helped immigrants that could only speak Gaelic.
What were Irish Catholic immigrant’s relationships like with Scots?
Irish Catholics that moved to Scotland often faced a negative stereotype from Scots, partially created by the severe poverty that many struggled with. For example, they were blamed for encouraging poorer Scots to drink and street battles between Protestants and Catholics created a negative stereotype.
