The United States has celebrated Irish American Heritage Month officially since 1991. Designed to honor of the contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants, events include everything from parades to heritage exhibitions and a "shamrock ceremony" at the White House.
Did you know? At least nine men of Irish descent signed the Declaration of Independence. Of course, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in the U.S. for over 250 years (as early as 1762). According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, over 30 million U.S. residents claimed Irish ancestry (about 9.5%), making it one of the largest ancestry groups in the nation.
Jacksonville Public Library has an amazing collection, including many books by and about Irish Americans. Throughout the year, we like to highlight a few themes or selections to demonstrate the range of that collection. This month, we hope you'll explore the following titles with us:
