'The Irish in Philadelphia: Coming to America

This video succinctly recounts the story of more than four centuries of migration from Ireland to Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. It traces the immigrants’ experience after arriving in America and describes their involvement in major historical events. Of particular significance is the massive surge in the numbers of Irish immigrants arriving in Philadelphia during the period now known as the ‘Great Famine’ or the ‘Great Hunger’. It’s a fascinating story.
Music
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Dark Times - Kevin McLeod
Mourning Song - Kevin McLeod
Fare thee Well - Adrian von Ziegler
Music Extracts from:
Lament of the Irish Emigrant - Danny Doyle
Flight of the Wild Geese - Joanie Madden
Lament for Cu Chulainn - Bill Whelan / Linda Ralph
Tainise im' Chodlah - Catherine Ashcroft / Maurice Dickson
Music for Fife & Drum - United States Army Field Band
When Johnny Comes Marching Home: Songs of the Civil War - Green Field Production
Helpful Resources
Independence: A Guide to Historic Philadelphia by George W. Boudreau
The Irish in America by John Francis Maguire
The Irish in America by Michael Coffey
The Forgotten Irish: Irish Emigrant Experiences in America by D. Shiels
My Life In The Irish Brigade: by William McCarter
A Greater Ireland: The Land League & Transatlantic Nationalism in Gilded Age America by Ely M. Janis
The Famine Ships: The Irish Exodus to America by Edward Laxton

[@seangleason260]

Really an amazing video, im born and raised in Philadelphia of Irish descent, and I'm very proud of my heritage and from watching this I'm even more appreciative of the struggles the Irish of the past had to deal with for America to exist and for me to be here...very humbling

[@DrDavidOwens]

I am pleased you enjoyed it. I was in my 40's before moving to the U.S. - by plane, not a coffin ship!

[@GopiTalari]

I have watched a lot of videos to learn about famines, but this one provided the deepest truth. You deserve more recognition. I love all your videos and the hard work behind your research.

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for your kind comments. David

[@owenrooneycloudtech]

really enjoyed that. I have a lot of distant family in Pennsylvania and it was great to relive a small part of their journey from all those years ago

[@DrDavidOwens]

I have lived in Philly during three different periods and I retired here. I enjoy making videos about this great city - working on one about its historic burial grounds currently.

[@jackdarren9210]

Greetings From Alabama USA . Enjoyed.

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thanks for watching!

[@lorrainedubzak6654]

My mothers family is part of that Irish history coming to America/ Philadelphia. One as an indentured servant to George Washington the other fighting in the Pa 6 would be a great great great grandfather on the Dooner side. I have been interested in finding more about them.

[@GraveVisitations]

Thomas holme a surveyor General was a friend of Penn in the quaker community.. Holme laid out the original plan for philadelphia..

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for your comment.

[@janetslicer3637]

David, I sincerely thank you for your previous message. Most KZbin presenters wouldn't have bothered. 🤫

[@DrDavidOwens]

You are very welcome

[@patrickglennon6834]

A stack of tyrone people in Philly, upper darby ect, tough people

[@BrandonDoesStuff1]

omg... i completely ignored any video by David Owens for over a year... bc 2 or more opened with a long song. I thought the whole vid was a stupid meaningly worthless song and had not desire to waste my time. i decided to survey a vid and skip to a distant portion of the video and low-and-behold... actual real content. I sheet my pants!

[@DrDavidOwens]

I can appreciate that if you dislike the 57-second extract of a popular song sung by Danny Doyle about Irish emigration you might think the introduction of the video is too long or meaningless; however, the remaining 20 minutes of the video is replete with information that you will not find gathered or visualized elsewhere in one place . Happy New Year.

[@BrandonDoesStuff1]

Thanks for the response. I was venting. Yes, it was/is simply too long. I can understand a 5-10 sec opening.... But after that, the viewer begins to question wtf is going on.... And leaves the vid. That is what i bet happens and thusly the good content is missed.