March 2024 Hours and Events

Congress designated March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991 and the president issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year.  Irish-American Heritage month honors the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States. The heritage month coincides with Saint Patrick’s Day, which is March 17.  Learn more about Irish Americans by clicking on the tabs in the left hand navigation menu for books, e-books, websites and more.

Image credit: https://rsmus.com/who-we-are/corporate-responsibility/diversity-and-inclusion/eng-page/celebrating-irish-american-heritage-month.html

The following facts come from the information gathered in U.S. Census Bureau surveys.  

• 31.5 million or 9.5% is the number/percentage of U.S. residents who claimed Irish ancestry in 2021.
• 118,539 is the number of foreign born U.S. residents who reported Ireland as their birthplace in 2021.
• 431,436 is the number of people living in Cook County, Illinois which is the nation’s county with the largest Irish American population who claimed Irish ancestry in 2021.

For more information on the Irish-American population, see the selected population profile from the 2021 American Community Survey 1-year estimates.  Statistics include: sex and age, marital status, educational attainment, veteran status, employment status, occupation, commuting, housing, and income.