ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Irish migration that played a part in the subsequent history of Glasgow. J. Handley's statistics indicate that at the time of the 1851 Census over 30% of the Irish-born in Scotland were based in Glasgow, and they constituted 18% of the city's total population. The Scottish Presbyterian tradition had been achieved after considerable struggle and sacrifice, and such was the strength of feeling at the end of the eighteenth century that in Glasgow 'there were only thirty-nine Catholics, but forty-three anti-Catholic societies'. Home Rule remained the significant political issue of the day for many Irish immigrants, and Catholic opinion in Glasgow was concerted and visible. The new church opened in 1912 when the Catholic parishioners numbered 3,560. By 1961, when the building was consecrated by the Archbishop of Glasgow, the Catholic population was clearly confident about public displays of its religious heritage and the clergy and relics processed through the streets of Govanhill.
