The Irish of Westchester County

Though the Irish came to New York City, those who settled in Westchester County found work, community, and a more rural environment than Manhattan. Many of them came north when the Bronx was still part of Westchester and planted roots there, or in Yonkers or New Rochelle or further north. Some helped build the railroads that became commuter lines, as well as the reservoirs and aqueducts that provided the city’s water. Many were firefighters, police, healthcare providers, politicians, and civil servants who enjoyed the music of the old country in the pubs and church halls that sprang up wherever they congregated.