[ MUSIC ] >> THE FOLLOWING IS A STEREO PRESENTATION OF WYES-TV NEW ORLEANS.

>> THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES.

>> IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN THAT IRELAND IS A PLACE DEFINED BY LEAVE-TAKINGS.

FOR CENTURIES, ITS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MORE OR LESS IN CONSTANT MOTION, CARRYING WITH THEM THE CULTURAL REFERENCE POINTS THAT ARE THE ESSENCE OF THEIR IRISHNESS.

AS TORCHBEARERS OF IRISH CULTURE, THE ADVENTUROUS SOULS WHO JOURNEYED TO FARAWAY PLACES LIKE NEW ORLEANS REDEFINED IRISH CULTURE EVEN AS THEY LEFT THEIR MARK ON THEIR NEW HOME.

[ IRISH MUSIC ] THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS PROVIDE CLUES THAT THE CITY IS MORE ETHNICALLY COMPLEX THAN THE TOURIST BROCHURES SUGGEST.

WHILE IT OFFERS THE PUBLIC ITS CREOLE FACE, THE REAL NEW ORLEANS IS AS HARD TO DEFINE AS THE TERM "CREOLE" ITSELF, MEANING VARIOUSLY "INDIGENOUS" OR "OF FRENCH OR LATIN DECENT" OR LOOSELY ANYONE FROM LOUISIANA.

IF ONE LOOKS BEYOND THE BEIGNET CAFES AND DECORATIVE WROUGHT IRON, YOU DISCOVER THAT DEEP DOWN, NEW ORLEANS IS, IN FACT, A GUMBO AND THAT SOME OF THE FLAVORS IN THIS TASTY DISH ARE DISTINCTLY IRISH.

AND, NO WONDER, SINCE THE IRISH HAVE BEEN ONE STRATUM OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE THE 1700'S.

>> THERE ARE IRISH RECORDS GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1730'S.

INDIVIDUALS CAME OVER, THEY STAYED, THEY DIED, THEY MARRIED, THEY HAD CHILDREN HERE.

SO IN THE 18TH CENTURY RECORDS, IF ONE WERE TO GO THROUGH THEM CAREFULLY, ONE WOULD FIND A NUMBER OF IRISH HERE.

[ IRISH MUSIC ] >> KNOWN AS THE WILD GEESE, THE THOUSANDS WHO FLED TO CONTINENTAL CATHOLIC COUNTRIES IN THE 18TH CENTURY IN ORDER TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION OR DEATH AT THE HANDS OF THE BRITISH WERE AMONG IRELAND'S BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

ONE OF THESE EXILES WAS GENERAL ALEXANDER O'REILLY, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE KING OF SPAIN AS THE SECOND GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA IN 1769.

O'REILLY'S MISSION WAS TO REESTABLISH SPANISH RULE AFTER A REBELLION BY THE COLONISTS.

ALTHOUGH HIS TENURE IN THE CITY WAS BRIEF, BEFORE HE RETURNED TO SPAIN, THIS DEVOUT CATHOLIC FROM COUNTY MEATH IRELAND, ESTABLISHED THE CABILDO AND INITIATED ACTION THAT WOULD BRING MISSIONARIES TO MINISTER TO THE MANY CATHOLICS IN THE VAST TERRITORY.

OTHER IRISH EXILES MIGRATED IN TO COLONIAL NEW ORLEANS IN THE 1700'S ATTRACTED BY SPANISH LOUISIANA'S CATHOLICISM AND IT'S ANTI-BRITISH POLICIES.

>> THE SPANISH, BY LAW, REQUIRED THAT EVERYONE BE CATHOLIC.

YOU HAD, HOWEVER, NUMEROUS PROTESTANTS POURING IN TO THE AREA FROM THE ATLANTIC COLONIES, PARTICULARLY INTO MISSISSIPPI AND TO NATCHEZ.

AND SO THE SPANISH FACED THE DILEMMA: DO YOU EXILE ALL THESE PEOPLE?

AND THE RESULT WOULD BE YOU'D LOSE MOST OF YOUR PROSPEROUS SETTLERS.

AND SO THEY CAME UP WITH AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION, THAT THEY WOULD CONVERT ALL THESE PEOPLE.

IN ORDER TO DO IT, THEY WOULD RECRUIT IRISH SEMINARIANS AND PRIESTS TO COME OVER TO FLORIDA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA.

>> THEY DIDN'T CONVERT, OBVIOUSLY, ALL OR MOST OF THE PROTESTANTS.

AND IT WAS SORT OF A NA ÏVE THOUGHT THAT ONCE THE PRIESTS ARRIVED, THIS WOULD HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY.

AND SO THE MISSION ITSELF NEVER ACCOMPLISHED ITS MAIN PURPOSE.

THESE PRIESTS WERE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF MAINTAINING THE CHURCH HERE IN A PERIOD WHEN THERE WERE FEW PRIESTS.

AND WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL RECORDS SIGNED BY SANTIAGO COLMAN AND JUAN BRADY.

>> IRISH ADVENTURERS WITH AN ENTREPRENEURIAL BENT WERE ATTRACTED TO LOUISIANA FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS AND BECAME ENGAGED IN A WIDE RANGE OF THRIVING COMMERCIAL ENDEAVORS.

MANY OF THESE EARLY IRISH IMMIGRANTS WERE FROM ULSTER, WHICH HAD A SUCCESSFUL TEXTILE INDUSTRY.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF THESE EARLY IMMIGRANTS WAS OLIVER POLLOCK, KNOWN FOR HIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

POLLOCK'S OFFICES WERE ON CHARTER STREET, WHERE A PLAQUE NOW MARKS THEIR LOCATION.

STILL ANOTHER IRISHMAN, WHO REALIZED THE AMERICAN DREAM IN EARLY NEW ORLEANS WAS MAUNSEL WHITE, A NATIVE OF TIPPERARY WHO CAME TO THE CITY IN 1801.

WHITE MADE A FORTUNE IN LAND SPECULATION AND MARRIED THE DAUGHTER OF A WEALTHY CREOLE.

DURING THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, WHITE COMMANDED THE LOUISIANA BLUES, A REGIMENT CONTAINING A NUMBER OF IRISHMEN.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN WHITE AND ANDREW JACKSON DOCUMENTS THE FRIENDSHIP ESTABLISHED BY THE TWO MEN ON THE CHALMETTE BATTLEFIELD.

IN LATER YEARS, WHITE BECAME ONE OF THE PROMOTERS AND ORGANIZERS OF THE NEW ORLEANS CANAL AND BANKING COMPANY AND THE NEW BASIN CANAL.

FROM THE TIME OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE IN 1803 TO 1810, THE POPULATION OF NEW ORLEANS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 20,000 PEOPLE.

WHILE THE CREOLES STILL DOMINATED SOCIETY, TRAVELERS DESCRIBED THE CITY AS A BABYLON OF AMERICANS, FRENCH, ENGLISH, SPANISH, GERMANS AND IRISH.

IN 1809, THE FIRST ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION IN NEW ORLEANS WAS AN AUSPICIOUS OCCASION, ATTENDED BY IMPORTANT POLITICAL LEADERS INCLUDING GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE.

>> NOW YOU BEGIN TO SEE A LARGER NUMBER OF CATHOLICS WHO ARE MOVING.

AND THESE ARE ARTISANS OR THEY'RE STRAW FARMERS OR THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF SKILL TO LEAVE IRELAND.

AND THEY COME FROM THE SAME BASIC AREA.

THEY COME FROM SOUTHERN ULSTER, NORTHERN LINSTER, THIS AREA WHERE THERE'S A CLASH OF CULTURES, OF BOTH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT.

AND AS THE NAPOLEONIC ERA ENDS, BRITAIN'S MONOPOLY OVER SUCH THINGS AS WEAVING AND WOOLENS AND THE NAVIGATIONS ACTS THAT THEY HAVE PASSED HAVE SQUEEZED THESE PEOPLE OUT OF IRELAND.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTION FOR THE IRISH CATHOLICS COMING TO NEW ORLEANS WAS THE PARRISH CHURCH, FOR IT SERVED THEIR RELIGIOUS NEEDS, EDUCATED THEIR CHILDREN AND OFFERED SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH IT'S PAROCHIAL ORGANIZATIONS.

AS THEIR NUMBERS INCREASED, THE IRISH LONGED FOR A CHURCH WHERE THEY COULD CELEBRATE MASS IN THEIR NATIVE TONGUE.

IN THE 1820'S, SOME IRISH LEFT ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL WHERE THE SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED MAINLY IN FRENCH, TO WORSHIP AT A CHAPEL LOCATED ON THE SITE OF THE URSULINE CONVENT.

[ MUSIC ] THE 1830'S WAS A PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN NEW ORLEANS.

THE POPULATION MORE THAN DOUBLED TO ABOUT 102,000, MAKING THE CRESCENT CITY THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

IMMIGRANTS BEGAN POURING INTO THE NEW ORLEANS PORT AND IT BECAME THE SECOND LARGEST PORT OF ENTRY IN THE NATION.

ONLY NEW YORK RECEIVED MORE PASSENGERS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

ABOUT HALF OF THESE TRAVELS WERE IRISH AND THOSE WHO TOOK UP RESIDENCE SETTLED MAINLY IN THE SECOND MUNICIPALITY, THE EXPANDING AMERICAN SUBURB ABOVE CANAL STREET.

>> THE CITY IS NOT THAT BIG, NUMBER ONE.

AND THIS GROUP IS LOCATED ALONG THAT ROAD CAMP STREET, ALONG JULIA, GERARD.

THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE SETTLING, CLOSE TO THEIR BUSINESSES.

THIS IS NOT A CITY THAT HAS MASS TRANSIT.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND.

THE PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK'S, FATHER MULLEN, WHO IS A CANTANKEROUS AND DYNAMIC INDIVIDUAL HAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING TO SEE THE BISHOP OF NEW ORLEANS, ANTOINE BLANC.

HE HAS TO WRITE HIM LETTERS.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR THEM TO GET AROUND.

SO THIS PARISH IS CLOSE BY WHERE EVERYBODY LIVES AND WORKS.

>> ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH LIES IN THE 700 BLOCK OF CAMP STREET IN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN SECTOR.

THE FIRST CHURCH ON THE SITE WAS A SMALL WOODEN BUILDING, WHICH SERVED THE PARISH WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1833.

NEW ORLEANS IRISH SOON FILLED THE SMALL STRUCTURE TO CAPACITY, SO CONSTRUCTION OF A GRAND, GOTHIC-STYLE CHURCH WAS BEGUN, BUILT THROUGH DONATIONS MADE BY THE IRISH CATHOLIC COMMUNITY AND NON-CATHOLIC FANS OF FATHER MULLEN.

THE SWAMPY SITE CAUSED DEFECTS IN THE FOUNDATION.

TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE CHURCH HIRED ARCHITECT JAMES GALLIER, AN IRISHMAN WHO CAME TO THE CITY IN 1834.

GALLIER IS ONE OF THE SO-CALLED LACE CURTAIN IRISH, A TERM FOR THE IMMIGRANTS OF THIS PERIOD WHO ASSUMED MORE AMERICAN VALUES.

GALLIER AND HIS SON AND PARTNER, JAMES GALLIER, JR.

DESIGNED SOME OF THE CITY'S FINEST STRUCTURES INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL ST. CHARLES HOTEL, THE FRENCH OPERA HOUSE, THE PONTALBA BUILDINGS AND, OF COURSE, THE OLD CITY HALL KNOWN AS GALLIER HALL.

>> GALLIER IS OBVIOUSLY A PROFESSIONAL PERSON WHO'S BEEN PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED IN ARCHITECTURE WHO IS WELL RESPECTED, WHO ALLIES HIMSELF WITH SOME OF THE BETTER ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

AND SO RESPECTED THAT HE'S CALLED INTO RECLAIM ST. PATRICK'S FROM COLLAPSING.

[ BAGPIPES ] >> WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1840, ST. PATRICK'S, THE FIRST ENGLISH-SPEAKING PARISH CHURCH IN THE CITY, BECAME THE SPIRITUAL HUB OF THE IRISH IN NEW ORLEANS.

OVER 150 YEARS LATER, THE HISTORIC CHURCH HAS BECOME A KIND OF PILGRIMAGE SITE FOR THE IRISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WHERE THEY GATHER EACH ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO CELEBRATE GOD AND THE IRISH.

THERE ARE COUNTLESS TAILS AND LEGENDS ABOUT THE PASTOR OF ST. PATRICK'S, FATHER JAMES IGNATIUS MULLEN, A BIG OUTSPOKEN IRISHMAN WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR OF 1812.

MULLEN WAS AN ARDENT BELIEVER IN THE CONFEDERATE CAUSE AND REFUSED TO BE COERCED BY GENERAL BENJAMIN BUTLER, WHO COMMANDED THE OCCUPYING UNION ARMY IN 1862.

ON ONE OCCASION, FATHER MULLEN CHALLENGED BUTLER TO COME AND GET THE ST. PATRICK'S BELL IF HE DARES.

>> MULLEN IS A WONDERFUL, COLORFUL IRISH PRIEST.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS WAS WHEN HE AND MARGARET HOGERTY WENT TO GENERAL BUTLER AND BUTLER COMPLAINED ABOUT HIM NOT BURYING SOME OF THE UNION SOLDIERS.

AND, MULLEN, OF COURSE, REPLIED THAT HE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO BURY ALL OF THEM.

>> MARGARET HORRY IS ANOTHER IRISH PERSONAGE WHO LOOMS LARGER THAN LIFE IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.

DESPITE PERSONAL TRAGEDY THAT LEFT HER ORPHANED, WIDOWED AND CHILDLESS, THIS FORMIDABLE IRISH WOMAN ESTABLISHED A PROFITABLE DAIRY AND BAKERY IN NEW ORLEANS, THE PROFITS OF WHICH WERE TURNED OVER TO THE NEEDY.

FOR HER DEVOTION TO THE ORPHANS OF NEW ORLEANS, A MARBLE STATUE WAS ERECTED TO HER AFTER HER DEATH.

>> THE IMAGE OF MARGARET ON THE STATUE REVEALED THAT MARGARET WAS NOT GLORIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL, GLAMOROUS.

SHE CERTAINLY WASN'T RICH.

WE KNOW NOW THAT SHE WASN'T FORMALLY EDUCATED IN ANY WAY.

SHE COULDN'T SIGN HER OWN NAME.

THE RECORDS SHOW THAT SHE SIGNED HER OWN WILL WITH AN 'X'.

BUT, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING IN HER THAT MADE HER SPECIAL.

OR MAYBE IT WAS WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH THAT KIND OF FIRED, LIKE THEY DO WHEN THEY PUT A PIECE OF METAL IN THE FIRE TO MAKE A FINE WEAPON.

[ MUSIC ] >> "10,000 MICKS, THEY SWUNG THEIR PICKS TO DIG THE NEW CANAL BUT THE CHOLERAY WAS STRONGER 'N THEY AND TWICE IT KILLED 'EM ALL."

>> IN 1832, WORK BEGAN ON THE MOST AMBITIOUS CIVIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT OF THE ERA: THE NEW BASIN CANAL.

THIS MONUMENTAL UNDERTAKING TOOK SIX YEARS AND COST THE LIVES OF UNTOLD NUMBERS OF IRISHMEN, WHO SHOVEL-BY-SHOVEL DUG THE CANAL.

UPON COMPLETION, THE NEW BASIN CANAL LINKED THE RIVER WITH THE LAKE, CREATING A BACKDOOR TO THE GULF OF MEXICO THROUGH LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE BORGNE.

>> THE NEW BASIN CANAL WAS A COMMERCIAL VENTURE INTENDED TO ALLOW THINGS TO BE BROUGHT READILY INTO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS FROM NORTH OF THE CITY OR EAST OF THE CITY, VIA WATER, RATHER THAN HAVING TO COME UP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

IN 1832, THE LEGISLATURES FINALLY APPROVED THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CANAL BANK OR THE CANAL AND BANKING COMPANY, AS IT WERE.

AND THIS WAS A BANK THAT WAS FORMED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING THIS CANAL.

THIS CANAL WAS DUG, REMEMBER, IN THE 1830'S WITH PICKS AND SHOVELS AND WHEELBARROWS AND WAGONS.

THERE WERE NO BACKHOES, THERE WERE NO BULLDOZERS.

THIS WAS SWEAT EQUITY.

THIS WAS MAN LABOR.

AND IT WAS BACKBREAKING.

>> AUTHOR MALACHY MCCOURT SAYS THE IRISH POTATO FARMER WAS MORE SUITED TO DIGGING THAN TO RAISING CROPS.

>> THE RESULTS THAT BUSINESS OF THE IRISH BEING CONSIDERED AN AGRICULTURAL PEOPLE, THEY WERE NOT AN AGRICULTURAL PEOPLE.

THEY WERE AN AGRARIAN PEOPLE.

THEY WERE ONES WHO DEPENDED ON THIS ONE BLOODY CROP.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GROWING ANYTHING ELSE.

NOW, THE SWEDES AND THE NORWEGIANS AND THE GERMANS COULD ALL MOVE OUT IN THE DIRECTION OF WISCONSIN AND SET UP DAIRY FARMS AND THEY COULD SET UP IN MINNESOTA AND SET UP THERE.

AND SO COULD OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT THE IRISH, THEY HAD NOTHING ELSE.

SO WHAT DID THEY DO?

THEY WENT INTO MANUAL LABOR, OF COURSE, DIGGING DITCHES.

THEY DUG CANALS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEY DID THEM HERE.

[ IRISH MUSIC ] >> WORK ON THE CANAL COINCIDED ON A CHOLERA EPIDEMIC THAT CLAIMED THOUSANDS OF LIVES, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE CITY'S IRISH LABORERS.

THE ESTIMATES OF DEATHS FROM DISEASE OR ACCIDENT RANGED FROM 8,000 TO 20,000 IRISHMEN, DEPENDING ON THE SOURCE.

>> IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 10,000 IRISHMEN DIED DIGGING THAT CANAL BECAUSE OF THE DISEASE THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREVENT IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THEY WERE OUT IN THE CYPRESS SWAMP.

SO THEY WERE OUT THERE WHERE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A SANITARY ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO THEY'RE SURE THAT CHOLERA WAS A MAJOR CAUSE OF THE DEATHS.

THEY WERE WORKING HARD AND PAID LITTLE.

THEY COULDN'T GET SLAVES.

A SLAVE-OWNER WOULDN'T SEND A SLAVE OUT THERE BECAUSE A SLAVE WAS TOO VALUABLE.

SO THEY HAD TO PAY THE IRISHMAN 50 CENTS OR A DOLLAR A DAY AND IF HE DIED, YOU'D GET ANOTHER ONE.

THERE WAS NO CAPITAL LOSS.

>> MOST WHO DIED WERE BURIED ALONG THE SIX-MILE CANAL, WHICH FOLLOWED WHAT IS NOW THE PONTCHARTRAIN EXPRESSWAY.

THEY WERE NOT, CONTRARY TO SOME REPORTS, BURIED IN MASS GRAVES UNDER CANAL BOULEVARD NEAR CITY PARK AVENUE.

WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT MASS INTERNMENTS MOST CERTAINLY RELATED TO EPIDEMICS WERE DISCOVERED IN THAT AREA DURING ROADWORK IN 1985, EXCAVATION LEAD BY RICHARD BEAVERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT REVEALED A DISORDERLY BUT JUMBLED CEMETERY, CYPRESS GROVE NUMBER 2, WHICH EXISTED FROM 1849 TO 1929.

SCHOONERS, BARGES AND TUGS BROUGHT EVERYTHING FROM WATERMELONS TO LUMBER INTO THE CITY UNTIL THE LATE 1930'S WHEN A PORTION OF THE CANAL WAS FILLED IN FROM RAMPART TO CLAIBORNE.

ANOTHER PORTION OF THE WATERWAY WAS FILLED IN THE 1940'S TO MAKE WAY FOR THE PONTCHARTRAIN EXPRESSWAY AND THE UNION PASSENGER TERMINAL.

IN 1955, THE LAST LINK OF THE CANAL THAT HAD COST THE LIVES OF SO MANY IRISHMEN AND CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF THE CITIZENRY OF NEW ORLEANS WAS FILLED, ITSELF A VICTIM OF PROGRESS.

JOSEPH T. MCCAY, A 106-YEAR-OLD HIBERNIAN, REMEMBERS THE NEW BASIN CANAL.

>> THE BOATS USED TO GO FROM MOBILE.

SOME BROUGHT A BOATLOAD OF WATERMELONS AND OTHER STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND THEY USED TO GO DOWN THE BASIN.

WE USED TO GO SWIMMING IN THE BASIN, PERIOD.

AND WE USED TO GET A WHOOPIN' FOR HAVING DONE THIS BECAUSE WE WAS TAKING A RISK WITH OUR LIVES.

WE GOT SOME PATTYWHACKS.

>> IN 1990, THE IRISH CULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW ORLEANS ERECTED A CELTIC CROSS ATOP THE NEW BASIN CANAL IN LAKEVIEW TO HONOR THE IRISH WHO BUILT THE CANAL.

EACH YEAR, MEMBERS OF THE IRISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND OTHERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE HUMBLE DIGGERS TO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AT A REDEDICATION CEREMONY HELD IN NOVEMBER.

[ MUSIC ] >> THE IMMIGRANTS WERE LEAVING IRELAND.

THEY HAD TO GET OUT OF THERE BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE, THE TOTAL DESPAIR OF LIFE.

GOD KNOWS HOW MANY DIED, BUT CERTAINLY OVER A MILLION DIED.

SO THE REST WERE FLEEING THE LAND WHERE TERRIBLE -- YOU COULD ALMOST HEAR THE SCREAMS OF PEOPLE, ALMOST LIKE SPIRITUAL GAS OVENS OF SOME SORT THAT THEY HAD TO RUN FROM AND COME TO AMERICA.

>> THERE WERE PERIODIC FOOD SHORTAGES AND CROP FAILURES IN IRELAND IN THE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURIES BUT NOTHING ON THE SCALE OF THE GREAT FAMINE OF THE 1840'S AND EARLY 1850'S.

DURING THIS ERA, A TITLE WAVE OF IMMIGRANTS POURED OFF VESSELS THAT CROWDED THE PORT.

BETWEEN 1846 AND 1859, 415,000 IMMIGRANTS DISEMBARKED IN NEW ORLEANS, 52,000 IN THE YEAR 1851 ALONE.

>> THE BOAT PEOPLE KEPT POURING IN AND THEY MAINLY CAME FROM LIVERPOOL AS THEY'D ESCAPED OUT OF IRELAND.

AND THE SHIPS WERE AVAILABLE IN LIVERPOOL, HAVING GONE OVER THERE FROM LOUISIANA WITH COTTON AND GRAIN.

THEY WERE RETURNING EMPTY.

AND SO THE TRAVEL AGENTS OF THAT DAY PUT THESE PEOPLE ON THE BOAT.

IT TOOK SIX WEEKS AND TWO DAYS FROM THE PORT OF LIVERPOOL IN ENGLAND TO THE MISSISSIPPI.

>> THEY GET ON THE BOAT AND THE MASTERS AND THE CREWS OF THESE BOATS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BEING CRUEL OR INDIFFERENT.

AND THEY ARE LOCKED INTO THE HULLS OF THESE FORMER SLAVERS, WHICH ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SIX FEET ABOVE THEIR HEADS AND DARK AND THE HATCHES ARE BATTENED DOWN BECAUSE THE NORTH ATLANTIC IS SO TREACHEROUS AND DANGEROUS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SWAMPED.

AND SO THEY'RE IN THE DARK AND IN THE SMELLY PROXIMITY OF ONE ANOTHER.

AND SO THEY ARE SUBJECT TO ALL THE DISEASES THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE SUBJECT TO LIKE CHOLERA, DYSENTERY, DIARRHEA, ALL THESE THINGS THAT KILL PEOPLE.

>> CONDITIONS ON THE COFFIN SHIPS WERE SO INTOLERABLE THAT IN 1848, CONGRESS PASSED LEGISLATION REGARDING STEERAGE PASSENGERS, WHICH MANDATED SANITARY AND WELL-VENTILATED LIVING AREAS, FOOD, FUEL, A MEANS TO COOK AND ACCESS TO TOILET FACILITIES.

SHIPS FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THE SANITARY CODE WERE LIABLE TO FINE OR SEIZURE BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

DESPITE THE NEW LAWS, SHIPS ARRIVED TO THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS FILTHY AND DISEASED.

NEW ORLEANS HAD OUTBREAKS OF YELLOW FEVER FOR OVER 100 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE FAMINED IRISH.

NEVERTHELESS, LOCAL SENTIMENT BLAMED THE RECENT WAVE OF IRISH, THEIR POOR SANITATION, THEIR INTEMPERATE WAYS FOR THE DEVASTATING EPIDEMICS OF THE SAFFRON SCOURGE IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

>> YELLOW FEVER WAS CALLED "THE STRANGER'S DISEASE" BECAUSE IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THESE PEOPLE BROUGHT IT WITH THEM.

OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW WHERE YELLOW FEVER COMES FROM, FROM THE MALARIAL SWAMPS THAT SURROUND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

>> DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS AT THE TIME, THERE WOULD BE A SEVERE EPIDEMIC OR A MILD ONE.

THEY TENDED TO BE PRACTICALLY EVERY YEAR.

SO THE PEOPLE WOULD ACQUIRE THIS INFECTION RELATIVELY EARLY IN LIFE AND THOSE WHO SURVIVED THEN WOULD BE IMMUNE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

AND SO PEOPLE WHO WOULD COME FROM IRELAND OR EUROPE HAD NO IMMUNITY.

SO THEY WOULD GET THE DISEASE AS ADULTS AND HAVE A HIGH MORTALITY RATE.

IT IS A VIRUS THAT PRODUCES AN ILLNESS AND THE SYMPTOM WAS FEVER AND BAD FEELINGS, THE SAME WAY THAT INFLUENZA WOULD.

BUT THIS VIRUS HAS A PARTICULAR LIKING FOR THE LIVER.

SO IT ATTACKS THE LIVER, AND THE LIVER CELLS ARE DESTROYED AND THE PATIENT BECOMES YELLOW BECAUSE OF JAUNDICE.

>> THE EPIDEMIC OF 1853 WAS UNPARALLELED IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.

12,000 DIED OF YELLOW JACK IN THE SUMMER OF THAT YEAR.

ONE-THIRD OF THESE VICTIMS WERE IRISH.

THEIR ONLY LEGACY WAS THEIR ORPHAN CHILDREN, WHO IF THEY WERE LUCKY, WERE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS AND PLACED IN CATHOLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.

[ MUSIC ] >> MICHAEL FLANNIGAN, JOHN FLANNIGAN, JAMES O'HARE, JOHN CONNERY, HENRY NAUGHTON RAN AWAY, RAN AWAY, DIED IN THE ASYLUM, DIED IN THE ASYLUM.

>> IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THE CHURCH FELT THAT PART OF ITS MISSION WAS TO REACH OUT TO THE NEEDY AND THE MOST OBVIOUS OF ALL WERE THE ORPHANS.

AND IN A CITY LIKE NEW ORLEANS WHERE YELLOW FEVER AND CHOLERA HIT REGULARLY, MANY CHILDREN WERE ORPHANED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND HAD NO ONE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, NO RELATIVES SINCE THEIR PARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS.

AND THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED A NETWORK OF ORPHANAGES IN THE 19TH CENTURY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE CHILDREN.

SOME OF THESE RECORDS ARE THE MOST MOVING THAT WE HAVE.

>> OF THE 104,000 IRISH WHO CAME THROUGH THE PORT OF ORLEANS BETWEEN THE YEARS 1846 AND 1853, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY HOW MANY STAYED OR HOW MANY JOURNEYED ON UP THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE HEARTLAND.

AN AMBITIOUS BUILDING PROGRAM OF CATHOLIC CHURCHES TO SERVE THE IRISH IN THIS PERIOD TELLS US THAT THE IRISH COMMUNITY HAD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

BACK AT TOWN ALONG THE NEW BASIN CANAL, FURTHER UP RIVER INTO THE SECOND MUNICIPALITY AND THE SUBURB OF LAFAYETTE AND BELOW ESPLANADE AVENUE INTO THE POOR THIRD.

>> THESE CHURCHES INDICATE THE SOCIAL MIGRATION OF THE IRISH AND THE IMPORTANCE WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE CHURCHES INDICATES THAT THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH RECOGNIZES THAT THERE IS A NEED TO SERVE THESE PEOPLE.

THESE CHURCHES OF COURSE WERE IN WALKING DISTANCE OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY'RE POCKMARKED ALL AROUND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS WHERE IDENTIFIABLE AREAS OF IRISH PEOPLE ARE LIVING.

>> ONE POCKET OF IRISH LAY ALONG THE RIVER IN WHAT WAS THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE UNTIL IT'S INCORPORATION AS PART OF NEW ORLEANS IN 1853.

THE IRISH CHANNEL, AS THIS AREA IS STILL KNOWN WAS, IN FACT, HOME TO BOTH IRISH AND GERMAN IMMIGRANTS.

THOUGH IT'S GROG SHOPS, CRIME AND ROUGH RIVER TRADE GAVE IT A NOTORIOUS REPUTATION, THE RESIDENCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE ACTUALLY DEVOUT CATHOLICS WHO BUILT NOT ONE BUT TWO CHURCHES, ST. ALPHONSUS FOR THE IRISH AND ST. MARY'S FOR THE GERMANS, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER.

>> THE URBAN IRISH CAME UPRIVER FROM THE CITY AND THEY SETTLED IN WHAT WAS CALLED THE IRISH CHANNEL.

THESE WERE PEOPLE FROM THE URBAN AREAS, DUBLIN, DERRY, PLACES LIKE THIS.

THEY HAD SKILLS AND THEY SETTLED IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA WHERE THE CHURCH WAS BUILT BECAUSE THIS WAS AN INDUSTRIAL AREA AT THE TIME.

AND THOSE SKILLS WERE WANTED AND NEEDED.

FATHER JOHN DUFFY WAS A FIRST GENERATION IRISHMAN WHO CAME HERE FROM THE DIOCESE OF BALTIMORE.

AND BEING FIRST GENERATION, HE KNEW THE PENCHANT THAT THE IRISH HAD FOR DOING THINGS THAT WERE PART OF THEIR CHARACTER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE IRISH LOVED TO DO WAS TO PLEDGE.

THEY LOVED TO TAKE OATHS.

SO WHAT HE DID WAS COME INTO THE PARISH IN THE LATE-1840'S AND BEGIN THE FUNDRAISING PROJECT, MAKING THESE IRISHMEN STAND UP AND RAISE THEIR HANDS AND PLEDGE SO MUCH MONEY FOR ST. ALPHONSUS CHURCH.

>> THE CONSECRATION OF ST. ALPHONSUS IN 1858, ONLY A FEW YEARS AFTER A CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, WAS A MIRACLE OF SORTS, CONSIDERING THE POVERTY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE DISEASES, WHICH CLAIMED THE LIVES OF SO MANY, AND A NATIVIST MOVEMENT THAT BLAMED THE IRISH FOR ALL THE CITY'S ILLS.

>> ON THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR, THERE WAS PROBABLY CALLED THE AMERICAN PARTY OR KNOW-NOTHING PARTY, AND THEY FIRED MOST OF THE IRISH FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SAW THEM AS THE MAJOR OPPONENTS OF THEIR POLITICAL ORDER.

THEY INVENTED, FOR EXAMPLE, BRASS KNUCKLES IN NEW ORLEANS AND WHEN THEY HEARD AN IRISH BROGUE OF SOMEBODY COMING UP TO POLLING PLACES, THEY'D SIMPLY SLUG THEM OUT.

THE NATIVIST MOVEMENT REACHED ITS APEX IN 1855 WHEN IT WON CONTROL OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE BOARD OF POLICE.

THE KNOW-NOTHINGS MAINTAINED THIS POSITION OF POWER OVER THE IRISH DEMOCRATS FOR THE REST OF THE DECADE.

AS THE CIVIL WAR APPROACHED, HOWEVER, BATTLE LINES WERE DRAWN ACROSS RACIAL RATHER THAN ETHNIC BOUNDARIES.

[ IRISH MUSIC ] >> "MY OWN DARLING, THIS IS THE 11TH DAY OF THIS GREAT FIGHT AND THE FEEL WE ARE AT IT.

I HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, BEEN IN A GOOD MANY FIGHT.

BUT I NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THE CONQUEST OF THE 12.

GENERAL EWELL SAYS THAT OUR BRIGADE SAVED HIS LIFE BUT THE DETERMINED STAND WE MADE, WHICH CHECKED THE ENEMY'S ADVANCE.

I HOPE HE WILL MENTION IT IN HIS REPORT.

I AM, AS EVER, YOUR OWN, GEORGE."

>> THIS LETTER, WRITTEN DURING THE LATER YEARS OF CIVIL WAR BY A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER IN THE SIXTH LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS, TELLS OF THE FEROCITY OF BATTLE AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE MEN IN THIS MOSTLY IRISH REGIMENT FROM NEW ORLEANS.

>> AT LEAST THE FIRST PART OF THE CIVIL WAR, THE IRISH JOINED A LOT OF THE BRIGADES THAT ARE FORMED HERE IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

THERE WERE IRISH THAT JOINED UP ALL OVER THE SOUTH.

SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 30,000 PERHAPS IRISHMEN WOULD JOIN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.

>> THE REASONS THE IRISH JOINED A FIGHT IN WHICH THEY SEEMINGLY HAD NO STAKE ARE VARIED AND COMPLICATED.

BECAUSE THE IRISH WERE ON THE BOTTOM RUNG OF SOCIETY, THEY WERE IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH BLACK WORKERS FOR JOBS, HOUSING AND OTHER RESOURCES, LIKE MEDICAL CARE.

>> THE IRISH WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SLAVES REMAINED SLAVES BECAUSE IF THEY WERE FREE THEN THE COMPETITIVE EDGE THAT THE IRISH HAVE COULD BE LOST.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEIR BACKGROUND WOULD SAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE ANTI-SLAVERY.

BUT WHAT THEY ASSOCIATED ABOLITION WITH AND ANTI-SLAVERY WITH WAS A BRITISH MEANS, A BRITISH PLOT TO REDUCE THE UNITED STATES TO A SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP IN THE WORLD'S ECONOMY.

>> THE CIVIL WAR GAVE THE IRISH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THEMSELVES, TO PROVE THEMSELVES AND WORTH AS A HUMAN BEING, TO PROVE THAT THEY WERE LOYAL AND TO PROVE THAT THEY WERE THE EQUAL OF ANY OF THE SONS OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS, THAT THEY WERE EQUAL TO THE PLANTER'S SONS, EQUAL TO THE UPPER-CLASS SONS, WHO CONSIDERED THEMSELVES SUPERIOR TO EVERYONE ELSE.

>> THERE WERE MORE IRISH IN NEW ORLEANS THAN THERE WERE IN RICHMOND, SAVANNAH, CHARLESTON, JACKSON AND NASHVILLE COMBINED.

SO THIS WAS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE IRISH POPULATION IN THE SOUTH.

THERE WAS AN ASPECT OF BELONGING TO PROVE THAT IN YOUR NEW COUNTRY YOU INDEED TO BELONG.

AND THAT'S WHERE, IN THEIR VIEW, THERE COUNTRY WAS NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

SO THEY WOULD IDENTITY TO A DEGREE WITH THE CONFEDERACY.

THERE WAS PEER PRESSURE, PARTICULARLY IN THE EARLY STAGE.

>> THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS WERE ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT LOUISIANA REGIMENTS, INCLUDING MAJOR ROBERDEAU WHEAT'S FIRST SPECIAL BATTALION.

THE ROWDINESS OF THE IRISH CHANNEL WHARF RATS WHO JOINED HIS LOUISIANA TIGERS IS AS LEGENDARY AS THEIR FIGHTING PROWESS.

>> IN WHEAT'S QUARTERS WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE UNION FIGHT WITH, THEY WOULD FIGHT AGAINST OTHER CONFEDERATE UNITS AND FINALLY, THEY WOULD FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES.

THEY JUST ENJOYED FIGHTING.

>> THEY WERE ALWAYS EAGER FOR A FIGHT.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY DIDN'T CARE WHO THEY WERE FIGHTING, WHETHER IT WAS THE YANKEES OR WHETHER IT WAS THEIR OWN MEN.

LEE'S ARMY NEVER FEARED THE UNION FORCES BUT THEY DID FEAR HAVING TO CAMP NEXT TO WHEAT'S TIGERS.

AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION OF ALWAYS GETTING INTO FIGHTS AND INTO BRAWLS.

>> CURIOUSLY, THE COLORFUL UNIFORMS OF WHEAT'S TIGERS WERE INSPIRED BY FRENCH ALGERIA'S FIGHTING ZOUAVES OF THE CRIMEA WAR, WAGED SOME TEN YEARS EARLIER.

THERE WAS NO STANDARD ISSUE GEAR FOR THE CONFEDERATE FORCES.

AND THE GAUDY ELABORATENESS OF THE UNIFORMS WORN BY THE VARIOUS UNITS WAS BETTER SUITED TO PARADES THAN BATTLE.

THE TIGERS' RED SHIRTS MADE GREAT TARGETS FOR UNION SHARPSHOOTERS.

THESE COSTUMES, IF YOU WILL, REFLECT THE ROMANTIC NOTION OF THE WAR AT ITS START.

THE SOUTH FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT THEY WOULD QUICKLY DISPATCH THE ENEMY, SO PRACTICALITY WASN'T THE PRIORITY.

THE HORRIBLE REALITY OF WAR, HOWEVER, SOON MADE ITSELF EVIDENT IN THE BODY COUNT.

>> WHEAT'S MEN HAD BASICALLY KILLED THEMSELVES OFF BY 1862, REALLY ABOUT A YEAR INTO THE WAR.

THEY WERE REALLY DECIMATED.

>> FOR THE IRISH CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS, THE PRESENCE OF A CATHOLIC FIELD CHAPLAIN WAS OF GREAT COMFORT AS THEY FACED THE HORRORS OF WAR.

>> THE PRIESTS WOULD HOLD MASS.

AND OF COURSE, IF THERE'S NOT A BATTLE GOING ON, IT MIGHT BE RELATIVELY POORLY ATTENDED.

BUT WHEN THE MINI BALLS STARTED FLYING AND WHEN THE CANNONBALLS STARTED WHIZZING THROUGH THE AIR AND THINGS STARTED EXPLODING, MASS WAS PRETTY HEAVILY ATTENDED.

THE MEN WOULD COME TO THE PRIEST FOR BLESSINGS OR FOR A GENERAL ABSOLUTION PRIOR TO BATTLE.

VERY COMMONLY, A GENERAL ABSOLUTION WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE MEN.

THAT'S WHERE IF THE MEN DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GO TO CONFESSION, THEY WOULD GO TO THE PRIEST AND THE PRIEST WOULD GIVE A GENERAL ABSOLUTION OF ALL SINS AND CLEANSE THE SOUL FOR THE JOURNEY TO HEAVEN.

>> THE IRISH IN THE LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS PROVED THEIR VALOR IN THE ARMY OF NORTH VIRGINIA, WHICH IS REGARDED BY HISTORIANS AS ONE OF THE MOST CAPABLE FIGHTING MACHINES IN US HISTORY.

THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE IN PART BECAUSE THE IRISH, HAVING SUFFERED A LIFETIME OF HARDSHIP, WERE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE.

>> THESE MEN, FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER, CONTINUALLY KEPT THEMSELVES GOING, PUSHED THEMSELVES INTO BATTLE.

YOU HAVE A JOHN DOYLE FROM THE SIXTH LOUISIANA WHO WAS WOUNDED THREE TIMES, CAPTURES, WENT TO A FEDERAL PRISON, WAS EXCHANGED.

BUT HE STAYED WITH IT.

HE JOINED UP FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, ENDED UP AT APPOMATTOX DESPITE HIS WOUNDS, DESPITE HIS CAPTURE.

>> OF THE 1,000 OR SO INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ASSIGNED TO THE LOUISIANA SIXTH, SOME WERE TRANSFERRED, SOME WERE KILLED, OTHER DESERTED OR WERE CAPTURED.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR, AFTER APPOMATTOX, ONLY 55 MEN REMAINED.

THE SOUTH MAY HAVE LOST THE WAR BUT THE IRISH FINALLY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN A WAY THAT WON THE RESPECT OF THEIR AMERICAN PEERS.

[ MUSIC ] NOT SURPRISINGLY, IN THE YEARS DURING AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, IRISH IMMIGRATION TO NEW ORLEANS VIRTUALLY CEASED.

HOWEVER, ONE GROUP OF IRISH WOMEN WHO CAME DURING THIS BLEAK ERA WAS THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WHOSE ORDER HAD BEEN FOUNDED IN DUBLIN IN 1827 BY CATHERINE MCAULEY.

THEY SETTLED IN THE IRISH CHANNEL AND BEGAN TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO THE DISPOSSESSED CONFEDERACY.

>> THESE WERE THE DAYS OF THE TURMOIL FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR.

PEOPLE CALL IT RECONSTRUCTION.

THE SISTERS CONSIDERED IT A PERIOD OF REAL DESTRUCTION.

PEOPLE HAVING LOST FAMILY, LOST POSSESSIONS AND THESE CHILDREN BEING DEPRIVED OF EDUCATION.

>> LED BY MARY AUSTIN CARROLL A NATIVE OF TIPPERARY, THIS FORWARD THINKING ORDER OFFERED JOB TRAINING, AN EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AND FREE DAYCARE TO THE IRISH WAR WIDOWS.

>> THE WOMEN IN THE CHANNEL WERE ALWAYS VERY HARDWORKING WOMEN.

BUT THEY WORKED IN THE HOME FOR THE MOST PART.

BUT, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MANY OF THEM HAD TO WORK OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME BECAUSE THE FATHER DIED OR THE FATHER WAS AN INVALID.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES, THEY NEEDED TRAINING FOR A JOB.

THAT WAS FURNISHED BY THE SISTERS IN THE HOUSE OF MERCY.

>> THE SISTERS OF MERCY HAD SERVED AS FIELD NURSES DURING THE WAR.

IN NEW ORLEANS, THEY WAGED A BATTLE AGAINST YELLOW FEVER.

>> THE IDEA OF CATHERINE MCAULEY WAS THE SISTERS WERE TO GO WHERE THE NEED WAS.

THE NEED WAS IN THE HOME WHEN POOR PEOPLE WERE SICK.

THEY WERE NOT RICH ENOUGH TO GO TO A HOSPITAL.

MANY OF THEM EVEN TRIED CHARITY HOSPITAL.

THEY CALLED FOR THE SISTERS.

>> NOT EVERY IRISHMAN WAS AS DOWN ON HIS LUCK AS THE POOR SOULS MINISTERED TO BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

IN 1870, 12 IRISHMEN FOUNDED A NEW BANK CALLED HIBERNIA, THE ROMAN NAME FOR IRELAND BEFORE THE TIME OF ST. PATRICK.

>> THE IRISH COMMUNITY IS, OF COURSE, THE OUTGROWTH OF THE PEOPLE THAT IMMIGRATED OVER DURING SOME TERRIBLE TIMES IN IRELAND.

BUT, SINCE THAT TIME, THEY HAD BECOME, A LOT OF THEM, QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

AND WHEN THE BANK OPENED FOR BUSINESS, IT, WITHOUT MUCH TROUBLE AT ALL, HAD OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN DEPOSITS.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, WE THINK IN TERMS OF THE IRISH AS NOT BEING A PEOPLE OF MEANS.

BUT, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THEY WORKED HARD, THEY WERE INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE.

>> THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE HIBERNIA BANK WAS A PUBLIC SPIRITED IRISHMAN FROM COUNTY CORK, PATRICK IRWIN.

AMONG HIS CIVIC ACHIEVEMENTS WAS THE OPENING OF THE DRYADES STREET MARKET IN AN AREA OF GROWTH SPURRED BY THE NEW BASIN CANAL.

>> PATRICK IRWIN WAS ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO SAY FAMOUS, FOR SEVERAL OTHER THINGS IN NEW ORLEANS.

PROBABLY THE THING THAT HE WOULD BE MOST PROUD OF IS HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE CONVENT AND ALSO THE SCHOOL THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

>> DURING RECONSTRUCTION, THE IRISH WERE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN THE POLITICAL, AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL ARENA.

THEY HAD BECOME PROFICIENT AT POLITICAL NETWORKING IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE SEE THE GROWTH OF THE REGULAR DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE OLD REGULARS, OR RING, AND THE RISE OF THE SO-CALLED IRISH MACHINE POLITICIANS, PRECINCT CAPTAINS AND WARD BOSSES WHO USED PATRONAGE AND POLITICAL FAVORS FOR CONTROLLING THE VOTE.

JOHN FITZPATRICK, THE BIG BOSS OF THE THIRD WARD, WAS A SECOND GENERATION IRISHMAN WHO WAS RAISED IN ST. MARY'S ORPHANS ASYLUM.

>> HE RISES FROM BEING A TYPESETTER TO A MAN THAT BECOMES A POLITICAL OPERATIVE WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND BECOMES A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE MOST POPULIST OF IRISH WARDS, THE THIRD WARD OF NEW ORLEANS, AND THEN MOVES INTO VARIOUS LOW LEVEL AND THEN HIGHER LEVEL POLITICAL JOBS AND THEN EVENTUALLY BECOMES MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

[ MUSIC ] >> FOR THE IRISH OF NEW ORLEANS, THE 20TH CENTURY IS A PERIOD OF ASSIMILATION AND UPWARD MOBILITY.

ALTHOUGH THERE WOULD BE TWO MORE IRISH-AMERICAN MAYORS, ANDREW MCSHANE AND ARTHUR O'KEEFE, DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS DID NOT WIN THEM STARRING ROLES IN LATER DECADES.

THEY DID, HOWEVER, MANAGE TO CONTROL A LION'S SHARE OF POWER AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL AS WARD TAX ASSESSORS.

>> WITHIN THE IRISH COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU'D SEE IS CLUSTERS OF IRISH POLITICAL FEASANCE QUITE OFTEN AROUND THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

IN THE UPTOWN IRISH CHANNEL AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SAW THE BURKE FAMILY, WHICH REALLY RULED THAT AREA UNTIL THIS PAST YEAR.

AND THEN THE COMISKEY FAMILY IN THE THIRD WARD, THE DEAGAN FAMILY.

AND SO THE IRISH WERE REALLY ABLE TO GRAB THAT OFFICE.

AND THE ASSESSOR'S JOB WAS AT FACE VALUE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT POWERFUL OF A JOB BECAME VERY POWERFUL IN NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE THEY REALLY CONTROLLED TAXES TO A CERTAIN INSTANCE.

SO PEOPLE WANTED TO BE BEHOLDING TO THE ASSESSOR.

>> JAMES COMISKEY COMES FROM ILLUSTRIOUS LINE OF NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SERVANTS, INCLUDING A GREAT UNCLE WHO WAS A LEGISLATOR FROM THE THIRD WARD AND A GRANDFATHER WHO WAS A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

BUT IT IS HIS FATHER WHO WAS A LEGEND IN LOCAL POLITICAL HISTORY: JIM COMISKEY TAX ASSESSOR OF THE THIRD WARD AND LAST OF THE IRISH POLITICAL BOSSES.

>> MY FATHER WAS A VERY POWERFUL FIGURE, A VERY CHARISMATIC FIGURE.

AND, WHEN HE WALKED INTO A ROOM, PEOPLE LOOKED.

I MEAN, REALLY, HE HAD THAT WAY ABOUT HIM.

HE REALLY DID.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, BESIDES JUST BEING TAX ASSESSOR, HE THEN GOT INVOLVED IN ORGANIZED POLITICS AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

AND, OF COURSE, ULTIMATELY BECAME THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WHOLE GROUP, THE WHOLE REGULAR DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION.

>> JIM COMISKEY, WHEN HE WAS ASSESSOR, THAT HE HAD THIS TRADITION OF ONE NIGHT A WEEK HAVING THESE SESSIONS WHERE HE WOULD OPEN UP HIS CARPORT ON JEFF DAVIS.

AND PEOPLE WOULD COME AND THEY'D VISIT THE ASSESSOR.

AND ANY PROBLEMS THEY HAD THEY'D GO AND TALK TO THE ASSESSOR.

AND VERY FEW OF THESE PROBLEMS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH PEOPLES' PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PAY PROPERTY TAX ANYWAY.

QUITE OFTEN, MAYBE IT WAS, LIKE, A KID WHO WAS IN TROUBLE OR THEY NEEDED A JOB OR THEY NEEDED SOME ADVICE, THEY NEEDED SOME GRASS CUT OR THAT SORT OF THING.

SO IT WAS A BIG DEAL AND, OF COURSE, IT WAS SORT OF A BEHOLDING THING, TOO.

IT REALLY HELPED THE ASSESSORS BUILD THEIR BASE.

>> I WAS WITH HIM ONE DAY AND WE WENT TO BATON ROUGE WHEN GOVERNOR DAVIS WAS GOVERNOR.

AND GOVERNOR DAVIS INVITED US UP TO THE OLD MANSION FOR BREAKFAST UP ON NORTH BOULEVARD.

AND WE HAD ABOUT 20 OF US THERE.

AND SO MR. JIM WAS TELLING GOVERNOR DAVIS HOW MUCH PATRONAGE HE NEEDED.

AND GOVERNOR DAVIS MADE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING MR. JIM HE COULDN'T GIVE HIM ANY MORE PATRONAGE.

WELL, WITH THAT, MR. JIM JUMPS UP, WALKS OUT, HE SAID, "GOVERNOR, THE MEETINGS OVER.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE ME, CALL ME."

WELL, THE GOVERNOR RAN BEHIND, HE SAID, WAIT, JIM, I WANT TO TRY TO EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU.

JIM COMISKEY NEVER HESITATED BUT HE GOT IN THE CAR AND DROVE BACK TO NEW ORLEANS.

>> IN THE IRISH CHANNEL, THE EQUALLY COLORFUL BURKE FAMILY MAINTAINED THE TAX ASSESSOR'S JOB FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

>> MY GRANDFATHER RAN FOR THE JOB IN '40 AND HE LOST.

AND THE MAN WHO DEFEATED HIM PASSED AWAY ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER.

MY GRANDFATHER GOT APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AT THAT TIME.

AFTER THAT, HE RAN FOR RE-ELECTION AND HE KEPT WINNING.

THEN, IN '53, MY GRANDFATHER DIED.

THAT'S WHEN MY FATHER CAME BACK FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS, WHERE HE WAS WORKING, AND HE RAN FOR THE JOB.

HE BEAT JUDGE O'KEEFE.

AND JUDGE O'KEEFE'S FATHER COMPLAINED TO THE SUPREME COURT AND THE SUPREME COURT THREW THE RACE OUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT AT THAT TIME YOU HAD TO HAVE TWO-YEAR RESIDENCY.

SO THEY CALLED FOR ANOTHER ELECTION.

SO THEY RAN MY GRANDMOTHER.

MY GRANDMOTHER BEAT THAT BY A GREATER VOTE THAN MY DADDY DID.

SO SHE RAN THE OFFICE FOR FOUR YEARS, AND THEN MY FATHER CAME IN IN 1958 AND HE SERVED UNTIL HIS DEATH IN '77 WHEN I RAN FOR THE JOB AND HELD IT UNTIL THIS PAST YEAR.

>> THE BURKE FAMILY UPTOWN HELD ONTO THAT JOB AN INCREDIBLE LONG PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL RONNIE BURKE WAS DEFEATED THIS PAST YEAR.

AND HE HELD ONTO THAT JOB EVEN AFTER THE DISTRICT BECAME OVERWHELMINGLY BLACK.

AND, FINALLY, THIS PAST YEAR, THE NUMBERS JUST DIDN'T WORK FOR HIM ANYMORE.

THE ONE THING THAT THE BURKE FAMILY MAINTAINED WAS THE TRADITION, WHICH WAS STARTED BY THE OLD BURKE OF HAVING THE IRISH CHANNEL PARADE IN THE IRISH CHANNEL, INCLUDING RONNIE BURKE WHO MAINTAINED THAT TRADITION.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT PARADE IS IN KEEPING WHAT I THINK IRISH ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT'S VERY POLITICAL.

THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF POLITICIANS INVOLVED.

BUT WHAT'S UNUSUAL ABOUT THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE IN NEW ORLEANS IS THAT IT IS SO INFLUENCED BY MARDI GRAS.

ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD IS THE SAME ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE.

WHAT YOU HAVE IS MEN IN TUXEDOS WALKING DOWN THE STREET WAVING AT EACH OTHER.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, IT IS REALLY A WAY OF SNEAKING A LAST BURST OF MARDI GRAS INTO THE SEASON.

>> FOR THE NEW ORLEANS IRISH, SUCCESS SEEMS TO RUN ALONG FAMILY LINES.

TWO FIRST COUSINS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY MADE AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE COMMUNITY.

JAMES FITZMORRIS, JR., FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA AND WILLIAM J. MCCROSSEN, SUPERINTENDENT EMERITUS OF THE NEW ORLEANS FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG, WE MOVED TO THE BROADMOOR SECTION.

AND THE BROADMOOR SECTION IS UP AROUND GENTILLY AND BROAD AND NAPOLEON, RIGHT IN THAT AREA.

MY MOTHER AND DAD WERE SORT OF THE PIONEERS UP THERE.

WE HAD A GREAT FAMILY LIFE.

WE ENJOYED IT.

OUR PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE A WAY OF ENJOYING LIFE.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE IRISH CHANNEL, BORN ON LAUREL STREET BETWEEN FIRST AND PHILLIP.

IT WAS REPORTED BY THE TIMES TRIBUNE THAT WE HAD THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

WHEN I WAS OLD ENOUGH, 21, TO VOTE, AND I BEGAN KNOCKING ON THE DOORS TO THE WATER TO ASK THEM TO PUT ME IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND, OF COURSE, HE TOLD ME, YES, WHY NOT?

YOUR FATHER WAS A FIREMAN.

SURE YOU'RE GOING TO BE A FIREMAN.

AND I WENT THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

I WAS ALMOST 28 YEARS OLD WHEN I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I HAD TO REALLY PERSEVERE BUT I NEVER GAVE UP.

>> THESE CIVIC LEADERS WERE RAISED WITH A STRONG SENSE OF THEIR IRISHNESS.

TODAY, THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THAT HERITAGE.

>> I THINK THE IRISH MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

THERE'S PRIEST AND THERE'S NUNS AND THERE'S FIREMEN, THERE'S POLICE.

WE HAD BUSINESSMEN AS AGGRESSIVE PEOPLE DEDICATED TO THEIR JOB.

OH, YEAH, I THINK THEY DID A GREAT SERVICE TO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

>> ANOTHER NOTEWORTHY FAMILY OF IRISH DECENT INFLUENCED THE CITY'S DINING RATHER THAN ITS POLITICAL SCENE: THE WORLD FAMOUS BRENNAN'S.

OWEN BRENNAN, KNOWN AS THE HAPPY IRISHMAN OF THE FRENCH QUARTER, ENTERED THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS ON A DARE.

>> THERE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THOSE FRENCH GUYS, COUNT ARNAUD CAZENAVE OF ARNAUD'S RESTAURANT, WHO KIND OF ENDED UP FLINGING DOWN THE GAUNTLET TO OWEN BRENNAN.

THE STORY GOES THAT ONE DAY OWEN BRENNAN WAS GROUSING AND GRUMBLING ABOUT HIS LIFE AND HOW HE COULD SHOW THESE GUYS A THING OR TWO ABOUT RUNNING A RESTAURANT.

AND COUNT ARNAUD, WHO DID HAVE A TRADITION OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT BUTTON TO PUSH ON PEOPLE, HE TOLD OWEN BRENNAN, AH, WHAT'S AN IRISHMAN KNOW ABOUT FRENCH FOOD?

WELL, THIS BECAME A KIND OF RUNNING GAG WITH THEM THAT GRATED ON OWEN BRENNAN IN JUST THE PROPER WAY TO GET HIM GOING TO SHOW COUNT ARNAUD AND LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHAT AN IRISHMAN CAN KNOW ABOUT FRENCH FOOD.

>> THE SAVVY RESTAURATEUR MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CREATE AN IRISH RESTAURANT.

INSTEAD, BRENNAN HIRED A FRENCH CHEF AND GAVE THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO NEW ORLEANS WHAT THEY WANTED: CREOLE CUISINE.

>> TO THIS DAY, IF YOU ASK ELLA BRENNAN WHAT ELEMENTS OF IRISH CUISINE HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY ONTO ANY BRENNAN MENU, ELLA BRENNAN WILL TELL YOU, WELL, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THERE IS NO IRISH CUISINE.

THERE REALLY WAS NO EFFORT TO CREATE BRENNAN'S AS AN IRISH RESTAURANT.

WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS, OF COURSE, WAS THESE BRENNAN'S WENT FORTH AND BEGAT MORE BRENNAN'S AND STARTED A WHOLE SLEW OF RESTAURANTS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SCENE.

>> WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR SO MANY BAD THINGS, ALL THE CRIME AND TYPHOID AND WITCHCRAFT AND THE WHOLE BLOODY LOT.

BUT NOW THIS TERRIBLE THING HAS DESCENDED UPON US: RESPECTABILITY.

IT'S ANOTHER DISEASE WE HAD.

THEY'VE ALL FORGOTTEN WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

>> NOT IN NEW ORLEANS THEY HAVEN'T.

THE INTEREST IN ALL THINGS IRISH IS THRIVING, THANKS FOR THE CITIES MULTITUDE OF IRISH CLUBS AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.

>> WE FOUNDED THE IRISH CULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW ORLEANS.

WE CALL IT ICSNO, I-C-S-N-O, IN 1980, BECAUSE WE WERE INTERESTED IN FURTHERING IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF WHAT WE MIGHT CALL TRADITIONAL IRISH CULTURE, THAT IS IRISH SONGS, PLAYS, HISTORY, ART, DANCING.

>> RESTING PLACES WERE SCARCE IN THE OVERCROWDED BOARDING HOUSES WHERE IRISH IMMIGRANTS WAITED TO SET SAIL TO THE NEW WORLD.

IF STREET MUSICIANS WERE HIRED TO STRIKE UP A TUNE, HOWEVER, BEDS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AS PEOPLE, UNABLE TO RESIST, WOULD GET UP AND DANCE.

IRISH MUSIC IS STILL IRRESISTIBLE AND IN NEW ORLEANS, THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST IN IT TO KEEP TWO SCHOOLS OF DANCE HOPPING.

>> THIS SCHOOL CERTAINLY ESTABLISHED TO TEACH AND PRESERVE THE IRISH DANCE.

IRISH DANCING HAS BEEN IN NEW ORLEANS FOR A LONG TIME.

MOST OF US DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

THERE ARE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES THAT DESCRIBE, LITERALLY, THE DANCE BEING DONE.

SO WE SEE JIGS AND REELS AND HORNPIPES, FLIP JIGS, THE CLARE LANSERS, DANCES THAT WE DO TODAY AND CONSIDER HAVING COME FROM IRELAND AS THEY DID, OF COURSE, BUT WE THINK OF IT AS COMING MORE RECENTLY.

IN FACT, THEY WERE HERE, ON THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS, BEING DANCED IN 1892.

>> OVER A HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THE INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS ARMAGH RHYMERS JOINED THE NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE FOR A TRADITIONAL CEILIDH.

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN COMING BACK TO AND FRO AND TO AND FRO FOR YEARS NOW.

BUT WHAT REALLY ATTACHED US TO NEW ORLEANS SINCE WE'RE A MASKED GROUP IS THE MARDI GRAS TRADITION OF THE MASKS.

THE FIRST MASKS THAT YOU SEE ARE PAINTED ON THE CEILINGS OF CAVES IN UGANDA.

MASKED PERFORMERS THERE IN FRANCE AND IN PORTUGAL.

THAT'S 34,000 YEARS AGO IF YOU HAVE THE FIRST ART, YOU HAVE THE FIRST MASKS, YOU HAVE THE FIRST THEATER.

AND IT ALL SEEMS TO COME TOGETHER HERE IN NEW ORLEANS.

>> IN THE IRISH CHANNEL, A NUMBER OF GROUPS ARE WORKING TO SAVE AND CELEBRATE AN AREA, WHICH HAS BEEN IN DECLINE SINCE THE IRISH EXODUS TO THE SUBURBS.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT AFTER WORLD WAR II, WHEN OUR VETERANS CAME BACK AFTER THE WAR, IN ORDER TO GET A VA LOAN BACK THEN, THE VA LOAN WAS ONLY GRANTED TO PEOPLE WHO BUILT A NEW HOUSE.

SO ALL THE HOUSES IN THE IRISH CHANNEL WERE ALREADY CONSTRUCTED.

SO YOU COULDN'T GET A VA LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE.

SO YOU HAD TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL TERRYTOWN THE LITTLE IRISH CHANNEL BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE IRISH CHANNEL MOVED OVER TO TERRYTOWN OR MOVED OUT TO METAIRIE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH BIG FESTIVITIES ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY WHEN EVERYBODY COMES BACK TO THE IRISH CHANNEL BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE WHO USED TO LIVE THERE, WHO GREW UP THERE, WHO HAD TO MOVE OUT THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN JUST TO SURVIVE.

AND THEN THEY COME BACK TO SHOW WHAT GOOD TIMES THEY HAD WHEN THEY LIVED IN THE CHANNEL.

>> THINGS ARE LOOKING UP IN THE IRISH CHANNEL, WHICH HIT ROCK BOTTOM IN THE 1980'S.

THANKS PARTLY TO THE MARKETING EFFORTS OF THE IRISH CHANNEL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER, THIS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IS GETTING A SECOND CHANCE.

ANOTHER IRISH GROUP, THE FRIENDS OF ST. ALPHONSUS, HAS WORKED FOR 10 YEARS TO SAVE AND RESTORE THE CHURCH, WHICH IS NOW AN ART AND CULTURAL CENTER.

THE FRIENDS OF ST. ALPHONSUS OFFER GENEALOGY CLASSES, ART TOURS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PRESERVE THE IRISH PAST.

>> WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD TAKE OVER THE MONTH OF MARCH AND MAKE IT IRISH ROOTS HERE IN THE IRISH CHANNEL.

THEY HAVE A PARADE AND WE BUILT AROUND THAT.

THE IRISH ALWAYS LOVED TO GET OUT IN THE STREET AND MARCH.

AND SO WE TOOK THAT AND DECIDED TO PARADE OUR HERITAGE, WHICH IS DONE BY THE ROOTS PROGRAM.

THAT'S EDUCATIONAL, MUSIC, CULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT WE SPONSOR ON ONE DAY IN MARCH.

IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL MAINLY BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS RESURGENCE OF IRISH PRIDE.

>> ALTHOUGH ST. ALPHONSUS IS NO LONGER A CHURCH, THE SISTERS OF MERCY ARE EVEN TODAY AN ACTIVE PRESENCE IN THE IRISH CHANNEL WHERE THEY RUN THE ST. ALPHONSUS SCHOOL.

>> WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL HISTORY IN THE IRISH CHANNEL FOR OUR RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY.

AND IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD TO CURRENTLY SERVICE THE REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

IN THE IRISH CHANNEL, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT BY OUR HEALTH SYSTEM TO PUT RESOURCES BACK INTO THE CIVIC COMMUNITY WHERE THEY BELONGED.

THE MERCY SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER WAS FOUNDED.

IT IS NOW HOUSED IN OUR ACTUAL CONVENT FACILITY.

>> ANOTHER IRISH ORGANIZATION WITH ROOTS IN THE 19TH CENTURY IS THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS, THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF WHICH HAS ABOUT 300 MEMBERS.

>> IT'S A MEN'S IRISH CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION.

NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN IRISH SURNAME BUT EVEN WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD OF YOUR IRISH ANCESTRY AND YOU HAVE TO BE CONCERNED THAT YOU DON'T FORGET IT AND THAT YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO FORGET IT.

>> IT WAS A PROTECTION SOCIETY, SO TO SPEAK ALSO.

I MEAN, IF ANYBODY UP IN THE NORTH IT WAS FOUNDED TO PROTECT THE IRISH FROM THE KNOW-NOTHINGS ET CETERA, BACK IN THE 1830'S AND 40'S.

AND, OF COURSE, AFTER THAT IT BECAME MORE OF A HERITAGE AND CULTURE ORGANIZATION.

>> AN OFFSHOOT OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS IS THE LADIES ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS.

>> IT STARTED OUT WITH THE LADIES BEING QUIET HELPERS TO THE MEN IN THE ORIGINAL ORGANIZATION.

THROUGH THE YEARS, IT THEN EVOLVED INTO AN AUXILIARY STATUS AND WE MOVED ON TO THE FUTURE.

AND NOW THE LADIES ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

IT'S AN ORGANIZATION IN AND OF ITSELF, STANDING INDEPENDENTLY AND VERY PROUD I MIGHT ADD.

>> LIKE THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, THE LADIES ALSO STRIVE TO PROMOTE ALL THINGS IRISH.

ONE OF ITS PROUDEST ENDEAVORS IS LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN IRELAND'S ROSE OF TRALEE CONTEST, RECENTLY NAMED ONE OF THE EIGHT FLAGSHIP FESTIVALS BY IRELAND'S COMMITTEE ON CULTURE.

>> IT IS NOT A BEAUTY PAGEANT.

IT'S NOT FLUFF.

THERE'S ONLY 33.

AND THEY'RE GIRLS REPRESENTING IRELAND FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

IN EACH AREA, THEY HAVE BEEN SELECTED, THEY HAVE BEEN JUDGED AND WON THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING.

IT'S A REAL CELEBRATION OF BEING IRISH TO GO THERE.

AND IT'S THE IRISH HAVING LEFT TRALEE, COME TO THE STATES AND IT JUST IS A WONDERFUL SPREAD OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE.

>> ALTHOUGH NEW ORLEANS HAS NOT YET WON THE ROSE, IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF LOCAL HIBERNIAN ENTHUSIASM.

>> I TOOK THE SPOUSE AS MY MAIN -- MY SEVEN CHILDREN WITHOUT THE SPOUSES OVER TO IRELAND.

AND, AT THE SAME TIME, MY GRANDDAUGHTER CASEY WAS THE IRISH DELEGATE FOR THE ROSE OF TRALEE.

AND WE ALL WENT OVER THERE TOGETHER, AND WE WERE ROBBED.

[ LAUGHTER ] NO, I MEAN "ROBBED" SHE SHOULD HAVE WON IT.

>> THE ULSTER PROJECT IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS AND IRELAND.

FOR THE PAST SEVEN SUMMERS, IRISH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT TEENAGERS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE COME TO NEW ORLEANS FOR A CHANCE TO BECOME FRIENDS IN A NON-STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ULSTER PROJECT TEACHES US, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT IN NEW ORLEANS IS THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE LINK STILL CONNECTED TO NORTHERN IRELAND AND ALL OF IRELAND, IN FACT.

AS MUCH AS YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THEM WHEN THEY COME OVER HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THEIR PREJUDICES, THEY REALLY END UP CHANGING YOU.

SO, THE CONNECTION JUST GETS STRONGER AND STRONGER.

THE MORE YOU GET TO KNOW THEM, THE MORE YOU FEEL A PART OF THEIR WORLD.

>> NEW ORLEANS WOULDN'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HEAVY IRISH INVOLVEMENT AND INSTITUTIONS HERE.

THEY FIND THEIR NICHE IN NEW ORLEANS, AND THERE ARE SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES HERE.

AND THEY ADD TO THE COLOR AND LORE AND TO THE STRENGTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT THEY DON'T TRIUMPH IN THE WAY THAT THEY DID IN CHICAGO OR BOSTON.

>> DO THEY LOSE ANYTHING AS A RESULT OF ASSIMILATION?

SURE, EVERYBODY LOSES SOMETHING.

BUT THEY ALSO GAIN SOMETHING AND THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TO THE LARGER CULTURE.

>> THE IRISH WHO CAME TO NEW ORLEANS FORGED A CHAIN ACROSS THE ATLANTIC THAT GREW STRONGER AS MORE AND MORE IRISH MADE THE JOURNEY.

THEIR STORIES AND SONGS AND DANCE ECHOED ACROSS THE OCEAN AND CAN STILL BE HEARD ON THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS.

>> IRISH AMERICANS IN NEW ORLEANS WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH JOSEPH MCKAY, THAT IT MUST BE HORRIBLE TO WAKE UP AND NOT BE IRISH.

[ MUSIC ] >> IT HAS BEEN SAID, SADLY, THAT IRELAND'S GREATEST EXPORT EVEN TODAY IS ITS OWN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> WHEN THEY CAME TO LOUISIANA AND NEW ORLEANS AND THEY DUG THE CANALS HERE, YOU HAVE THE IRISH CHANNEL.

AND I HEAR THAT THERE IS AN ACCENT HERE THAT'S BROOKLYN IRISH.

>> THEY USED TO SAY, THERE WAS A SAYING THAT I HEARD FROM MY DAD THAT IF YOU PUNCH A MCKAY ON THE LAKEFRONT, THEIR NOSE WOULD BLEED ON THE RIVER.

THEY WERE THAT CLOSE.

>> WELL, I NEVER HESITATED TO SAY THAT I WAS IRISH, LIKE I NEVER HESITATED TO SAY THAT I WAS CATHOLIC.

AND I WOULD ALWAYS SAY, I HOPE YOU WOULDN'T VOTE AGAINST ME BECAUSE I'M IRISH, AND I'D HOPE YOU'D VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE I AM IRISH.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO BE THANKFUL -- THANK GOD I'M IRISH!

WHAT GROUP COULD ASK FOR ANY MORE THAN THAT?

[ MUSIC ]