Mass. Is Just About The Most Irish State In The Country

MASSACHUSETTS — While a majority of the population uses St. Patrick's Day as an excuse to have a parade, drink green beer and gorge on corned beef and cabbage, only a certain percentage can - or do - officially claim Irish ancestry.

According to the most recent figures available from the United State Census Bureau, 32.7 million, or 10.2 percent, of the country's residents claimed Irish ancestry in 2015. This number was more than seven times the population of Ireland itself (4.6 million), said the Census Bureau. Irish was the nation’s second-most frequently reported European ancestry, trailing German.

And here in the Bay State? In 2015, 20.2 percent of Massachusetts residents claimed Irish ancestry. New Hampshire, at 20.6 percent, was the only other state in which at least 20 percent claimed Irish ancestry. In Massachusetts, the Census noted that Braintree, at 40.2 percent, was one of the communities with the highest percentage of Irish people. Scituate and Marshfield Hills are two others with a high concentration.

Governor Charlie Baker proclaimed Irish American Month in Massachusetts last year, on March 1.

According to the Census surveys, California had 2.5 million people who claimed Irish ancestry, which was the highest of any state. Two other states — New York and Pennsylvania — also had more than 2.0 million Irish-Americans.

More facts on Irish-Americans? Check this out.

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