from 300 moments that make new orleans unique. 300...300 moments that make new orleans unique. what...

According to historian Laura Kelley, by 1850, 1 in 5 residents in the city was Irish, and by 1859, New Or- leans had as many Irish as Boston. Only New York City had more Irish immigrants. Even before the famine, New Orleans wel- comed Irish immigrants. Alejandro O’Reilly, Louisiana’s second governor under Spanish rule, was born in Ireland and moved to Spain to serve a Catholic monarch. The city’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in 1806. St. Patrick’s Catholic parish was established in 1833 to serve the Irish population in the area. Later, St. John the Baptist, St. Alphonsus, and Sts. Peter and Paul were built to serve the Irish in the city. The Irish could be found in all socio-economic groups in the city. They were the laborers who died by the dozens while building the New Basin Canal, and also the financiers who started Hibernia Bank in 1870. The Irish were active in labor movements in the city, striking to demand higher pay for laborers. While immigration slowed down after the Civil War, the Irish influence didn’t wane. Sev- eral chapters of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were created after the war and began parading on St. Patrick’s Day. In 1947, the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Committee began marching on St. Patrick’s Day, joined in 1976 by the Downtown Irish Club. Drawn by New Orleans’ strong Catholic community and opportunities for work, the Irish came by droves to the city during the potato famine. 300 NEW ORLEANS TRICENTENNIAL 171 8 ~ 201 8 THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, THE FRANCK-BERTACCI COLLECTION THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH The first mass was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Camp Street in 1840. Irish- born Alejandro O’Reilly served as Louisiana’s second governor under Spain. A nun shows off a coveted cabbage caught during the 2016 Irish Channel parade. The 1962 St. Patrick’s Day Parade A Celtic cross dedicated in memory of the Irish workers who constructed the New Basin Canal A historical photo of St. Alphonsus Church, which was opened to serve the Irish but was later combined with St. Mary’s Assumption Church, which was built to serve the Germans. In 1833, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church opened to serve a growing Irish population. From Bienville to Bourbon Street to bounce. 300 moments that make New Orleans unique. WHAT HAPPENED THE CHARLES L. FRANCK STUDIO COLLECTION AT THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION Hibernia National Bank was founded by Irishmen. The bank’s seal included a harp, Ireland’s national symbol.

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Page 1: From 300 moments that make New Orleans unique. 300...300 moments that make New Orleans unique. WHAT HAPPENED THE CHARLES L. FRANCK STUDIO COLLECTION AT THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION

According to historian Laura Kelley, by 1850, 1 in 5 residents in the city was Irish, and by 1859, New Or-

leans had as many Irish as Boston. Only New York City had more Irish immigrants.

Even before the famine, New Orleans wel-comed Irish immigrants. Alejandro O’Reilly, Louisiana’s second governor under Spanish rule, was born in Ireland and moved to Spain to serve a Catholic monarch.

The city’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in 1806. St. Patrick’s Catholic parish was

established in 1833 to serve the Irish population in the area.

Later, St. John the Baptist, St. Alphonsus, and Sts. Peter and Paul were built to serve the Irish in the city.

The Irish could be found in all socio-economic groups in the city. They were the laborers who died

by the dozens while building the New Basin Canal, and also the financiers who started Hibernia Bank in 1870.

The Irish were active in labor movements in the city, striking to demand higher pay for laborers.

While immigration slowed down after the Civil War, the Irish influence didn’t wane. Sev-eral chapters of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were created after the war and began parading on St. Patrick’s Day. In 1947, the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Committee began marching on St. Patrick’s Day, joined in 1976 by the Downtown Irish Club.

Drawn by New Orleans’ strong Catholic community and opportunities for work, the Irish came by droves to the city during the potato famine.

300NE W ORLE ANS

TRICENTENNIAL

1718 ~ 2018

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The first mass was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Camp Street in 1840.

Irish- born Alejandro O’Reilly served as Louisiana’s second governor under Spain.

A nun shows off a coveted cabbage caught during the 2016 Irish Channel parade.

The 1962 St. Patrick’s Day Parade

A Celtic cross dedicated in memory of the Irish

workers who constructed the New Basin Canal

A historical photo of St. Alphonsus Church, which was opened to serve the Irish but was later combined with St. Mary’s Assumption Church, which was built to serve the Germans.

In 1833, St. Patrick’s

Catholic Church opened to serve

a growing Irish

population.

From Bienville to Bourbon Street to bounce. 300 moments that make New Orleans unique. WHAT

HAPPENED

E C

RLE

S L.

IO C

OLL

ECT