Coatbridge is an urban town located on the eastern fringes of Glasgow, Scotland. The town quickly expanded during the late-eighteenth century as a centre of iron making, in part because it had a direct canal link to Glasgow. Cheap unskilled labour was in large demand and as result, the town became a very popular destination for vast numbers of people arriving in Scotland during this period.
The Irish first began arriving in Coatbridge in the early-nineteenth century. During this period, there was great tension between the new immigrants and the native miners. [1] The 1851 UK Census notes that the Irish-born population in Coatbridge made up a total of 35.8% of the population. However, it should be acknowledged that a significant proportion of these emigrants would have been Protestant. Sectarian strife was a feature of the nineteenth century Coatbridge. In 1857, there were reports of riots between local Catholics and Protestants. [2] The New York Times reported on serious "riots" between local Catholics and Orangemen which occurred during 1883. [3]
According to James Handley, [4] by 1901, the percentage of Irish-born in Coatbridge had fallen to around 15%, but remained the highest of all the major towns in Scotland. Handley's figures excluded the offspring of Irish-born immigrants and Handley argues that taking into consideration the culturally higher birth rates of Irish Catholic families at this time; the true figure of Irish population in Coatbridge at this time was in fact much greater.
In the late-nineteenth century, the largest and most generous Irish Home Rule organisation in Britain was found in Coatbridge. [5] [6]
Nineteenth century writers Andrew Miller [7] and the Coatbridge poet, Janet Hamilton both refer to the Irish in Coatbridge. Modern-day writer Des Dillon also writes at length about the descendants of the nineteenth-century Irish immigrants in present-day Coatbridge.
The formation of Whifflet Shamrock in 1888 suggests an attempt to set up a football team to represent the Coatbridge community. [8] The now defunct Patrick Sarsfield Hurling Club was set up in 1902 [9] with the Éire Óg club conceived a few years later. [10] Éire Óg went on to win the league title in 1909. [11] Owen Roe O'Neill Gaelic Football Club was founded in the town in 1912. [12]
In 1919, three branches of Sinn Féin were in existence. [13] There was also a Gaelic League branch (Canon O'Keefe branch) in the town in 1901. At the 1950 general election, TP O'Callaghan stood as the candidate for the Irish Anti-Partition League. However, he finished in last place out of three candidates and was not elected. There is also quite a large Orange heritage in Coatbridge, with Men's and Women's Lodges and various flute bands including; Lily Of The Valley and Prince of Orange.
General estimates that at least 60% of the population of Coatbridge have an Irish Catholic background are based upon census figures, factors such as high number of Catholic church parishes in the town (nine) and the fact that there are currently two Catholic secondary schools and one "non-denominational" school. Religious statistics gathered in the 2001 UK Census are not available on the census website due to 'risk' and the statistics being deemed 'sensitive data', [14] but Catholicism was recorded at just over 50%.
The 2001 census recorded that currently less than 4% of the population of Coatbridge are Irish-born. [15]
The Irish in Coatbridge have been a significant influence on the town's social, political and cultural life. In recent years there has been increased interest in the Irish cultural heritage of the town. Evidence of this can be seen in the St Patrick's 10-day-long festival (sponsored by the Irish government) and visits from members of the Irish government such as president Mary McAleese. On her last visit Mary McAleese described Coatbridge as the 'heart of Ireland in Scotland'. Currently there are four Irish dance schools in the area, regular Irish classes, a Gaelic football team (Sands MacSwiney, formed 1986) and an Irish Genealogy Project. St Patrick's Church is situated on the Main Street of Coatbridge and forms a hub of Irish activity in town hosting regular Irish quiz nights and shows of Irish themed films.
In 2006, Coatbridge (along with Port Glasgow and Clydebank) was voted 'the least Scottish town in Scotland' due to having the highest percentage of Irish names in the country. Reportedly more than 28% of adults in Coatbridge had names with Irish origins. [16] Ironically, Barra, the most Scottish place in Scotland is overwhelmingly Catholic compared to Coatbridge's slight majority. [17] [18] In 2008 Coatbridge was subject of an hour-long RTÉ documentary regarding the Irish culture of the town. [19]
Perhaps the most obvious link with between Coatbridge and Ireland are the numerous Celtic F.C. supporters' clubs operating in the area. Phil Coles' Celtic supporters' club holds a legendary place in the folklore of Coatbridge Celtic supporters. Coatbridge is noted as a particular hotbed of Celtic support. A number of locals have also played professionally for the club including Gerry Creaney, Peter Grant, John McNamee and European cup medal winner, John 'Yogi' Hughes.
The Saint Patrick's Day Festival in Coatbridge commenced in 2003 with a single event and has run every year since. The festival has grown and, by 2007, it included an art exhibition, theatre, sports, music, film, street festival and dance events. The festival now runs for 10 days and each year the day-long Saturday street-party in Main Street with Irish music and Irish dancing is the festival highlight. In 2006, 9,000 people took part in the festival. [20]
Guinness Diageo and the Irish government both sponsor the event. Irish President Mary McAleese visited Coatbridge in 2007. In 2006, Des Dillon's anti-sectarian play "Singin' I'm no a Billy he's a Tim" was performed at St Bartholomew's Church hall.
In 'Celtic minded', [21] Des Dillon wrote about the notion of a separate Coatbridge accent influenced by the successive waves of Irish immigrants into the town. The Coatbridge accent has been categorised as generally less usage of the Scots tongue and the tendency to stress the 'a' vowel differently, e.g. stair (sterr), hair (herr), fair (ferr) etc. and this is attributed to the impact of successive influxes of Irish immigrants, particularly from Ulster. Another notable language trait reminiscent of Hiberno-English that is practiced commonly in Coatbridge is the use of the 'reaffirmative' after a sentence, e.g. "I need to go up the street tomorrow so I do," or "Tommy Tango's is always open so it is". This use of the re-affirmative is still common although, due to intermingling of the population, the Coatbridge accent is no longer so distinct from the neighbouring Glasgow accent.
Notable residents representing the links between Ireland and Coatbridge have included Margaret Skinnider (1893–1971), a Coatbridge teacher who fought in the Irish 1916 Easter Rising, acting variously as scout and sniper before being wounded in action. She went on to become paymaster-general of the Irish Republican Army. [22] Dr. Charles O'Neill from Coatbridge represented South Armagh as the member of parliament. [23] Eddie McAteer who was born in Coatbridge was perhaps the most important nationalist political figure in pre-troubles Northern Ireland. [24] Danny Hegan, born in Coatbridge, played international football for Northern Ireland. [25]
Airdrie is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies on a plateau roughly 400 ft above sea level, and is approximately 12 miles (19 km) east of Glasgow city centre. As of 2012, the town had a population of around 37,130. Historically part of Lanarkshire, Airdrie forms part of a conurbation with its neighbour Coatbridge, in what is commonly known as the Monklands, formerly a district..
Lughnasadh or Lughnasa is an official Irish holiday and Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In Modern Irish it is called Lúnasa, in Scottish Gaelic: Lùnastal, and in Manx: Luanistyn. Traditionally it is held on 1 August, or about halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. In recent centuries some of the celebrations have been shifted to the Sunday nearest this date.
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about 8+1⁄2 miles east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. Along with neighbouring town Airdrie, Coatbridge forms the area known as the Monklands, often considered to be part of the Greater Glasgow urban area – although officially they have not been included in population figures since 2016 due to small gaps between the Monklands and Glasgow built-up areas.
Irish migration to Great Britain has occurred from the earliest recorded history to the present. There has been a continuous movement of people between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain due to their proximity. This tide has ebbed and flowed in response to politics, economics and social conditions of both places.
The culture of Ireland includes language, literature, music, art, folklore, cuisine, and sport associated with Ireland and the Irish people. For most of its recorded history, Irish culture has been primarily Gaelic. It has also been influenced by Anglo-Norman, English and Scottish culture. The Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland in the 12th century, and the 16th/17th century conquest and colonisation of Ireland saw the emergence of Tudor English culture repurposed in an Irish style. The Plantation of Ulster also introduced Scottish elements mostly confined to Northern Ireland.
Burnbank is an area in the town of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was formerly a separate mining village before being absorbed into the town.
The Whifflet Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland.
Whifflet is now a suburb of Coatbridge, Scotland, which once formed its own distinctive village. It is referred to locally as 'The Whifflet'. Presently located in the North Lanarkshire Council area it was originally known as wheat flats but over time the name appears to have developed into Whifflet. It is dominated by its main street, Whifflet Street, which has many shops including an old sweet shop Tommy Tangos, pubs and bookmakers and is towered over by the post-war built Calder flats. The two most prominent tower blocks are on Whifflet St.
Celtic studies or Celtology is the academic discipline occupied with the study of any sort of cultural output relating to the Celtic-speaking peoples. This ranges from linguistics, literature and art history, archaeology and history, the focus lying on the study of the various Celtic languages, living and extinct. The primary areas of focus are the six Celtic languages currently in use: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton.
Dalmuir railway station is a railway station serving the Dalmuir area of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is a large, five-platform interchange between the Argyle Line, North Clyde Line and West Highland Line.
Argyle Street railway station is a station in the City Centre of Glasgow, Scotland, on the Argyle Line, which connects the North Clyde lines at Partick with Rutherglen in the south-east of the city. The station is located below the thoroughfare whose name it bears. It has a narrow and often crowded island platform. It serves the Argyle Street shopping precinct as well as the St Enoch Centre. Along with Dalmarnock and Anderston, no services call at this station on a Sunday before 10am or after 6pm.
Irish-Scots are people in Scotland who have traceable Irish ancestry. Although there has been migration from Ireland to Britain for millennia permanently changing the historic landscape of Scotland forever, Irish migration to Scotland increased in the nineteenth century, and was highest following the Great Famine. In this period, the Irish typically settled in cities and industrial areas. Irish ancestry is by far the most common foreign ancestry in Scotland.
Carmyle railway station is located in the Carmyle area of Glasgow. It is on the Whifflet Line, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) east of Glasgow Central railway station. Train services are provided by ScotRail Trains.
Baillieston railway station is located in Caledonia Road on the southern boundary of the Baillieston area of Glasgow, Scotland, with the Broomhouse area on the other side of the tracks. It is on the Whifflet Line, 8 miles (13 km) east of Glasgow Central railway station. Train services are provided by ScotRail.
The Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway was a railway line in Scotland built by the Caledonian Railway to shorten the route from the Coatbridge area to Glasgow. It opened in 1865. It was later extended to Airdrie in 1886, competing with the rival North British Railway. Soon after a further extension was built from Airdrie to Calderbank and Newhouse.
Dunedin Connollys Gaelic Football Club is a Scottish GAA club based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1988, the club takes its name from the Gaelic name for Edinburgh, Dùn Èideann and the surname of Edinburgh-born Irish republican and socialist leader James Connolly. Dunedin Connollys have won the Scottish Championship 16 times and the British GAA title three times, most recently in 2018. Dunedin Connollys currently runs a Senior Men's team, an Intermediate Men's team, a Junior Men's team, two Ladies' teams and an underage set-up, Dunedin Og.
The history of Coatbridge, Scotland, is one of dramatic change. The town transformed from an obscure group of 18th century Lanarkshire hamlets strung out on the road between Glasgow and Airdrie to a world leading centre of iron production in the 19th century. Development took off at an incredible rate in the 19th century and led to massive changes to the landscape and an explosion in the population.
Though Coatbridge is a most interesting seat of industry, it is anything but beautiful. Dense clouds of smoke roll over it incessantly, and impart to all the buildings a peculiarly dingy aspect. A coat of black dust overlies everything, and in a few hours the visitor finds his complexion considerably deteriorated by the flakes of soot which fill the air, and settle on his face. To experience Coatbridge it must be visited at night when it presents a most extraordinary spectacle.... From the steeple of the parish church the flames of no fewer than fifty blast furnaces may be seen.... The flames have a positively fascinating effect. Now they shoot far upward, and breaking off short, expire among the smoke; again spreading outward, they curl over the lips of the furnace, and dart through the doorways, as if determined to annihilate the bounds within which they are confined; then they sink low into the crater, and come forth with renewed strength in the shape of great tongues of fire, which sway backward and forward, as if seeking with a fierce eagerness something to devour. The Scotsman, 1869
The Irish language originated in Ireland and has historically been the dominant language of the Irish people. They took it with them to a number of other countries, and in Scotland and the Isle of Man it gave rise to Scottish Gaelic and Manx, respectively.
The Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway was a railway company in Scotland, built to serve coal and ironstone pits in the Hamilton and Bothwell areas, and convey the mineral to Glasgow and to ironworks in the Coatbridge area. It was allied to the North British Railway, and it opened in 1877. Passenger services followed.
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