2. Scotland was facing its own emigration and problems in the
1800s. So what pull factors brought the Irish to Scotland? And
once here, where did they live?

3. Distance
The major reason the Irish
moved to Scotland was that it
was close to home.
A short distance meant
cheaper travel costs. The new
steamers also allowed people
to go home.

4. Better wages
Many Irish people found they
could get higher wages in
Scotland doing the same jobs.
In some places this could be
nine times as much as they
would earn in Ireland.

5. Jobs were available
The Industrial Revolution
meant Scotland needed more
workers. This was especially
true in the textile, coal and
iron industries.
Some employers even paid
housing and travel costs to
attract the Irish.

6. Family and friends
Like Scottish emigrants, many
Irish who settled in Scotland
wrote letters home
encouraging family and friends
to do the same.
Other Irish were then attracted
by the prospect of a better life
in Scotland.

7. Where did the Irish live?
Simply put, the Irish went
wherever there was jobs.
In 1841 there around 126,000
Irish-born people in Scotland.
By 1881 this had almost
doubled to 219,000.

8. The largest number of Irish
settled in the west coast,
especially around Glasgow.
Many Irish went to the east
coast, especially Dundee and
Edinburgh.
Dundee Irish went due to jute
jobs. The city had the highest
proportion of Irish.

9. The Irish were not welcomed
everywhere they went.
Some Scots were worried
about the effects of very poor
Irish people.
Others complained about the
Irish taking jobs, and also
about religion too.