History of The Irish in Omaha

The history of the Irish in Omaha, Nebraska, is a significant chapter in the city’s development, reflecting their substantial contributions to its cultural, economic, and political fabric. The Irish began arriving in Omaha in notable numbers during the mid-19th century, with their presence shaping the city from its earliest days as a frontier settlement through its growth into a modern urban center.

The first significant wave of Irish immigrants arrived in the 1850s and 1860s, drawn by opportunities in construction and transportation. A pivotal moment came in 1864 when thousands of Irish laborers arrived to work on the Union Pacific Railroad, which established its eastern terminus in Omaha. As many as 10,000 Irish workers contributed to the railroad’s expansion across the western United States, many choosing to settle in Omaha afterward. These immigrants often arrived indirectly, having first landed in eastern cities like New York or Boston before moving westward. Their labor extended beyond the railroad to the wholesaling district and, later, the Omaha Stockyards, established in 1887, where Irish immigrants were among the first employees.

Early Irish settlers established communities that left lasting marks on Omaha’s geography. In the 1850s, a group of Irish immigrants created Gophertown, an area north of Saratoga and south of Florence in present-day North Omaha, named for the dugout homes they constructed in the prairie landscape. This settlement coincided with the construction of Nebraska’s first church of any denomination—a Catholic church built by Irish immigrants in 1856, underscoring their early religious influence. By the 1870s and 1880s, the Near North Side became a major Irish neighborhood, alongside other ethnic groups, fostering a diverse community described by resident Josie McCullough as a melting pot of Swedish, Bohemian, Italian, Irish, and African American children. South Omaha also emerged as a significant Irish enclave, particularly around the stockyards, with Sheelytown becoming a notable ethnic neighborhood.

The Irish population grew steadily, with census data reflecting their prominence. In 1900, the Irish were the third-largest ethnic group in South Omaha, comprising 1,073 of 26,001 residents. By 1909, this number had increased to 2,250 out of 30,000, indicating a rising presence. By 2000, 62,349 of Omaha’s 390,112 residents claimed Irish ancestry, making them the second-largest European ethnic group in the city after those of German descent, a testament to their enduring legacy.

Politically, the Irish quickly asserted influence. In 1863, during the Nebraska Territory’s final legislative session, 31 Irish leaders supported George Francis Train’s senatorial bid due to his advocacy for Irish nationality. James E. Boyd, an Irish-born carpenter who arrived in 1856, became a prominent figure, serving as Omaha’s mayor in the 1880s and Nebraska’s governor from 1891 to 1893—the state’s first Democratic governor—after a legal battle affirming his eligibility despite his foreign birth. However, the 1890s also saw tensions, as the American Protective Association targeted Omaha’s Irish population in an anti-immigrant campaign, though by then, Irish Americans had largely assimilated into broader society.

Religiously, the Irish bolstered the Roman Catholic Church’s growth. The Creighton family, descendants of Irish immigrants, played a key role. Edward Creighton, who surveyed the transcontinental telegraph route in 1860, and his wife, Mary, donated land in 1863 to the local Catholic bishop, laying the groundwork for Creighton University. James O’Connor, born in Queenstown, Ireland, became the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Omaha in 1885, further solidifying Irish ecclesiastical leadership.

The Irish also left a complex social imprint. In 1909, the murder of Irish policeman Edward Lowery by a Greek immigrant sparked the Greek Town Riot, led by Irish community leader Joseph Murphy, which devastated South Omaha’s Greek neighborhood. Conversely, figures like Father Edward J. Flanagan, who arrived in Omaha in 1912 and founded Boys Town in 1917, exemplified Irish contributions to social welfare. Politically, Tom Dennison, an Irish crime lord, dominated Omaha’s vice industries from the late 19th century into the 1930s, wielding influence over gambling, liquor, and prostitution, and securing the election of Mayor “Cowboy Jim” Dahlman twelve times.

Today, Omaha’s Irish heritage is celebrated annually on St. Patrick’s Day, with events like the parade organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and festivities at Irish pubs reflecting a vibrant legacy. The Irish, who once comprised over one-sixth of the city’s population, have transitioned from laborers and settlers to leaders in religion, politics, and culture, leaving an indelible mark on Omaha’s identity.