Emigration from Ireland to Britain during the Second World War

Emigration from Ireland during the Second World War marked a watershed in Irish emigration history. The aim of this chapter is to examine the main reasons for emigration to Britain, and to establish the profile of the typical wartime emigrant. In addition it assesses the impact of wartime emigration on Ireland. It is apparent that the depression significantly reduced Irish emigration to the United States, during which time the majority of Irish emigrants went to Britain, which became firmly established as the most popular destination for Irish emigrants. Irish emigration to Britain therefore surged during the Second World War. In Dublin the Department of Industry and Commerce recommended that given the ill-feeling towards southerners in Northern Ireland &s;it would be preferable that such emigration from this country as must continue should be directed to Great Britain rather than the Six Counties&s;. By the end of the war numerous Irish communities had been established throughout Britain.

Archaeology · Economic history · Emigration · World War II · History · Irish and British Studies