Irish Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Irish workers came to Birmingham in the 19th century to dig canals and build railways, and in great numbers after the Second World War, when the city needed builders, factory workers and nurses. Irish families settled in Digbeth, Sparkbrook, Erdington and across the city, and Irish parishes and clubs became the heart of many neighbourhoods.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 16,964 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as White Irish; and 10,462 people living in the city had been born in Ireland. Many more Brummies have Irish parents or grandparents and describe themselves as British, so the city's Irish heritage runs far deeper than these figures.

Working for Birmingham

Irish labour helped to build post-war Birmingham, its roads, housing and factories, and Irish nurses were among the first to staff the new NHS. Today people of Irish heritage work in every profession, from medicine, law and teaching to construction, engineering and business, and Irish-run pubs and firms remain part of the city's fabric.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Irish community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Birmingham's St Patrick's Day parade through Digbeth is one of the largest in Britain, drawing huge crowds every March. St Chad's Cathedral has long been a spiritual home for Irish Catholics, and Irish music, dancing and Gaelic games are kept alive by clubs and schools across the city.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Irish community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.