Irish English
Pearl River (NY)The history of Irish English dates back to 1169, when Anglo-Normans first invaded Ireland, though the English presence remained limited until the 16th century and Irish remained strong in much of the country until the 19th. The distinctive Irish English heard today is the dominant language across Ireland, though it contains phonetic and grammatical influences from Irish. The mid-19th century Great Famine drove millions of immigrants to the U.S., including large numbers of both Irish and Irish-English speakers to New York. If down from 19th century peaks, immigration from Ireland to New York, and movement back and forth between the two countries, continues today.
M
uch of the South Bronx and Mott Haven were Irish beginning in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and many other neighborhoods followed. Although the Irish community in the Bronx today is not as large and widespread as it was, Woodlawn and surrounding areas (as well as Yonkers and Rockland County towns like Pearl River) remain a significant stronghold with many Irish speakers, including first-generation immigrants who came in the 1980s and might have learned the language at home or at school. Emerald Isle Immigration Center is one of the organizations that serves the community, while the An Béal Bocht bar/cafe close by in Riverdale serves as a home for Irish culture and music.
Note that the language above may be used throughout the New York area — this is just one significant site.