Corktown

This image is of an area of Butte, Montana in 1890. Butte attracted a disproportionately large number of Irish immigrants in the 19th century-in particular from the Beara Peninsula (Cork/Kerry) in Ireland-due to the copper mining industry.

Irish immigrants from particular parishes and counties often settled in the same parts of many U.S. cities as their countymen and women. The names that these areas were given can be a clue to where they are from in Ireland. However, coupled with this, it can also just be an indication of a general Irish area in a city.

The caption in the image reads: "Corktown, North Wyoming St., Butte, Mont, 1890 Smithers Collections." You can read more about this area of Buttle on a community Facebook page. The modern day Wyoming Ave. is on the north side of Butte, however I am not sure if they are one and the same.

Source: Montana Memory Project. The original owner of this image is Louis Fontana and it forms part of the Smither Collection.

The Gathering. No, Not That One

Parts of Montana, particularly Butte, have long had large concentration of residents with Irish ancestry. In an effort to try and preserve their stories, traditions, and folk memories, the Irish Studies department at the University of Montana has carried out an oral history project since 2009.

The Gathering: Collecting Oral Histories of the Irish in Montana is an online archive of interviews carried out with Irish-Americans who live in the state. As of June 2014, there are over one hundred interviews in the collection. Whilst the topics discussed with the contributors are wide-ranging, many talk about their recent and deeper family ancestry, including their knowledge of immigrant ancestors.

You can select and listen to all interviews by clicking here.