The Pros And Cons Of Irish Immigrants

In 1829 the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed which was opposed by The Presbytery of Glasgow but was supported by the legal and academic establishment of Edinburgh. This helps highlight the opposing views on Catholics. Majority of the population in Scotland had mixed views. A source by Henry Cockburn in 1835 (cited: Devine, 1999, pg. 490) from his journal, discusses his opinion of how there was little conflict between the Irish immigrants and the native Scots. The source says "New chapels have arisen peaceably everywhere; and except their stronger taste for a fight now and then, the Irish have in many places behaved fully as well as our own people". This source helps show that Catholicism was gradually building and gaining support if chapels were able to be built without aggression and opposition. In addition most employers had positive comments to say about Irish immigrants work ethic compared to Scottish natives. Most immigrants were living in poverty stricken areas and had little money, so no matter what type of job the immigrants got they worked the hardest in fear of losing their job. In comparison many employers preferred hiring Irish immigrants to
The first period of Irish assimilation in Scotland saw Irish second names becoming Scottish. Names such as O'Neil became McNeil, McDade; Davidson and so on (Devine, 1999). In the second half of the nineteenth century most Irish immigrants came from provinces such as Armagh which was an Orange county. With the addition of Ulster Protestants, Irish Protestants were shown less discrimination however it did increase sectarian animosity. Although hostility increased, Irish immigrants did not venture into more skilled employment areas but rather stayed within the unskilled/ semi-skilled areas and kept to themselves (John Grey Centre,