FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
LINK: Introduction - Irish American Resources at the Library of Congress - Research Guides at Library of Congress

Since the founding of the Jamestown colony in Virginia in 1607, Irish people have immigrated to and settled in America. From politics to a nation-wide appreciation of St. Patrick’s Day, every aspect of American history and culture reveals the extensive influence of Irish Americans and the significance of their ethnic identity.
This guide introduces the wonderful primary and secondary resources on Irish American heritage available through the Library of Congress. A variety of formats can be explored including audio recordings of interviews and music, photographs, and historic newspaper articles. In addition to the freely available online resources from the Library of Congress’s collections, selected online resources from sites outside of the Library of Congress are also listed. Additional materials such as printed books and subscription databases are available onsite at the Library of Congress and through other libraries.

Notable American actors with Irish ancestry

The Irish have a long history of involvement in the performing arts, both in Ireland and America. Irish immigrants brought their vibrant theatrical traditions to the United States, with Irish-American actors and playwrights enriching American theater. The works of Eugene O’Neill, a renowned Irish-American playwright and Nobel laureate, have had a lasting impact on American theater and continue to be performed to this day.