Irish Workers in Pennsylvania

History is our story! Join Cassandra McGinnis for a presentation about the Irish in Pennsylvania during Irish American Heritage Month.

In a city where innovation and industry reigns supreme, the stories of the working class are often buried in the soot. While it may be far from the shores of the Atlantic, Pittsburgh experienced its own waves of new residents from every corner of the world, with everyone bringing with them pieces of home to build something new.  Join Cassandra McGinnis, Local History Specialist for Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg Community Libraries for an examination on one of the many ethnic groups that intertwined their history with Pittsburgh’s in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  

Since 1820, an estimated 6 million Irish people have immigrated to the United States. Today, over 40 million Americans claim Irish heritage. As Irish immigrants arrived in the States looking for freedom and a better life, they faced new challenges and triumphs.  What happened to those that made their new home in Pittsburgh? How did they settle in? What did their daily lives look like? Learn how Irish traditions, language, and stories helped make Pittsburgh what it is today!

Cassandra McGinnis is the Local History Specialist for Cooper-Siegel Community Library and Sharpsburg Community Library, as well as the Historic Archivist for Wilkinsburg Public Library. They hold a degree in Public History and Historic Preservation from Northern Virginia Community College, and degrees in Art History and Gaeilge (Irish Language) from University of Pittsburgh. They are currently pursuing research in the development of Irish and Irish-American cultural identities through representation in visual art.  

Library parking is limited. If the library lot is full, we recommend parking at the 13th Street municipal lot. We're also conveniently located on the 91 and 1 bus routes.