Irish migration to Great Britain : Ask Biography

Ethnic group

Group

Irish Diaspora

Population

869,093 Irish-born
(1.4% of the British population)

6,000,000 with at least 25% Irish ancestry
(10% of the British population)

14,000,000 with less than 25% Irish ancestry
(25% of the British population)

Main region

Throughout Great Britain, especially Glasgow, London, Warrington, Luton, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Dundee and Birmingham.

Home | Ethnic Group | Irish migration to Great Britain

Irish people in Great Britain are members of the Irish diaspora who reside in Great Britain, the largest island and principal territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Irish have a long history in Great Britain, owing to the close proximity of the islands of Ireland and Great Britain, and the various political entities that have ruled them. Ireland was a feudal Lordship of the Kings of England between 1171 and 1541; a Kingdom in personal union with the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Great Britain between 1542 and 1801; and politically united with Great Britain as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland between 1801 and 1922. Today, Ireland is divided between the independent Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, which is administered by the UK.

Today, millions of residents of Great Britain are either from the island of Ireland or have Irish ancestry. It is estimated that as many as six million people living in the UK have an Irish grandparent.