Many that travelled to the US were doing so for one of two reasons:
Now, put yourselves in the shoes of the Irish that would have arrived in the US at this point in time – they were leaving an Ireland that was crippled with food shortages, starvation and disease. When poor immigrants from Ireland started to make their way across to America at a time when the Great Famine was ravaging our little island, many took up jobs in the bustling mining industry. A number of major gold rushes took place throughout the 19th century across the world, but most notably in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the US. The story begins at a time when America was experiencing what is known as its ‘gold rush years’. The Luck of the Irish saying is believed to have originated in America at some time during the 19th century and it’s thought to have been used in a derogatory manner at first. The Irish mythological creatures known as Leprechauns couldn’t be further from the story behind the Luck of the Irish saying. Now, if you’ve come here looking for tales of leprechauns and pots of gold, you’re going to be very disappointed, I’m afraid.
