The Irish in Haverhill, Massachusetts (Images of America)

James Maroney from Clare. “Capt.” Nicholas Costello from Kilkenny. The Lucey and Hodnett sisters from Cork. The many Linnehans from Limerick. Bridget McGovern from Cavan. These were some of Haverhill’s Irish. Some came by sailing ship during the years of the Great Famine. Others came by steamship at the end of the century. The immigrants hailed from every part of Ireland, but especially from the province of Munster. They were drawn to Haverhill, Massachusetts, to work in its shoe shops, to cook and clean in its “big houses,” and to be laborers for the city. The Irish immigrants settled in every part of Haverhill and put their imprint on the old Yankee town. They built their own churches and schools, joined together in fraternal and religious organizations, elected their fellow Irish to the city government, opened stores, and saw their children become lawyers, doctors, priests, and nuns, as well as professional baseball players. They were a visible presence, and we can view them through this wonderful collection of photographs lovingly preserved by their descendants.