Many Savannahians, Irish and non-Irish alike, were disheartened at the news of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade’s cancelation for the second year in a row due to the ongoing pandemic. Savannah locals love decking out in every shade of green and playing host to more than 400,000 visitors from all over the world, joining together to celebrate the city’s Irish heritage and have a drink or 10. The biggest party of the year may have been cancelled but the Irish heart and history of Savannah can be found everywhere you look.
Irish men and women were among the first settlers of Savannah in 1733 when it became the first city of Georgia, the 13th and final colony. But their major influence began in the 1830s and 40s after a large influx of Irish immigrants arrived looking for work and later escaping the potato famine in Ireland, according to the Georgia Historical Society. Contributions of the Irish in Savannah go far beyond a single day with much of the city’s foundation and captivating architecture built at the hands of hardworking Irishmen.