Hi All
The book sounds fascinating.
Certainly, traditionally there were loads of Irish in Cleator Moor.
I can't remember all the details, even the ones I know, but apparently the Irish have been coming for centuries, but with bigger influxes at certain times.
I've been told that for centuries there were Irish workers who came over for a good few months every year.
Many worked from the west of the country to the east and then back again, often with favourite places visited every year. So it's quite conceivable that babies might arrive or family members might die well away from where they werte on the census. Baptisms and marriages are a little easier to manage!
Of course loads of peple went back to Ireland to marry.
I always assumed it would be manual labour, and apparently they did work the harvest and also navied on the railways and suchlike. Mining was also a big draw - I think that may be the case in Cleator Moor. I've also been told though that many Irish were in demand for the skills they brought, such as engineering.
The military also provided work., and tere were always the travellers and hawkers.
Even before the influx from the potato harvest, many large families were struggling on the small plots of land they had, and income was sustituted by work elsewhere,.
There was an influx during the potato famines. I think the one which brought some of my own family acrosswas about 1845.
A huge number of Irish came in through Liverpool. Many had intended to continue on and emigrate. In Cumbria of course, they could come in through our own ports and by sea from Liverpool, but many also came through south Scotland. Iknow that more than one branch of my family in Lancashire arrived from Ireland via Scotland and Cumbria.
Just my amateur ideas! You may check them when you read the book. I did read a much shorter article in the Manchester and Lancashire FHS magazine. Of course I can't put that online, but I can give the details date etc to anyone interested.
Anyway, I must admit, witheveryone I've spokken to, when I have problems with the Irish, I'm much more open to relatives having been here forlonger than I realised, especially in the army, and also to the idea that most of the siblings etc may be found abroad.
Equally there were usually a few left in Ireland. Their census for 1911 and 1901 are almost fully online now, and fully free, I have seen Cumberland given as a birth. Worth a look!
Just incase you're lacking something to read!
Good night
Emms
