Charleston’s Strong Irish Roots

Established in 1670, Charleston is a city full of history, in fact, it is one of the oldest cities in the US. Charleston was originally known as Charles Towne. This was to honor King Charles II who was the king of England, Scotland and Ireland at that time. In addition, thanks to its 400-plus churches it was dubbed the ‘Holy City’.

As a city in South Carolina, there are many interesting things to note about Charleston. From its charming architecture to its historic tours, it’s no wonder the city welcomed over 7.43 million visitors back in 2019, according to Charleston County Economy. However, one of the most interesting things about Charleston is its Irish history. 

Ireland is a very popular travel destination. In 2019 alone the island welcomed over 11.3 million tourists. This comes as no surprise as the island is filled with beautiful scenery and breathtaking castles. Aside from this, Ireland is also filled with a rich history and many top forms of entertainment such as sports, festivals, and live music. In short, the Irish culture is truly fun and vibrant.

Moreover, not only are the Irish known for their love for four-leaf clovers but Irish symbolism has become more commonly used globally, especially within the entertainment industry. Online games such as Rainbow Riches are built around this imagery – while using a standard slot format of 5 reels and three rows, it uses the classic Irish symbols of pots of gold and wishing wells to signal bonuses, setting it apart from other slot games. Major films like ‘The Irishman‘ hint at the heritage of migrants and how Irish culture has secured its place in the US. In fact, the Emerald Isle’s history has crossed the seas and sits within the walls of the southern city of Charleston which holds a significant amount of Irish history.

The southern state of South Carolina is known to have strong Irish links, especially in Charleston. In fact, it is expected that in the nineteenth century the majority of Irish settlers who moved to the southern states typically settled in Charleston. Moreover, according to the census in 1860 around 8,800 of the people who lived in the state were of Irish descent. What’s more, out of the 4,996 native-born Irish people in South Carolina, almost two-thirds were primarily low-income workers. 

As more Irish migrants moved to South Carolina, they became more and more integrated into society. In fact, it was Irish laborers who aided in the building of the U.S. Custom House on East Bay Street in Charleston. They also helped build the railroad lines that head out of the city. 

By the twentieth century, Irish culture had fully assimilated into South Carolina as people pursued their deep interest in their ethnic roots. As a matter of fact, the South Carolina Irish Historical Society was founded by Irish Carlestonians back in 1979. More recently, in 2020 the ‘Honorary Consulate of Ireland’ was established in Charleston and was formed in order to provide a platform where those of Irish descent are able to connect with the significant historical and cultural ties to Ireland. It also highlights the recognition that South Carolina has one of the highest populations of Irish people in the Southeast. The southern state is now home to over 600,000 people who have Irish heritage.

Ultimately, looking back at the Irish history in Charleston it is clear that the city has benefited greatly from its Irish settlers who played a core role in building some of the city’s most prominent architecture. What’s more, the city has seen a lot of growth as a result of more people of Irish descent moving to Charleston. There is no doubt that the city continues to entertain many Irish visitors today.

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