The Migration Miseum is moving to central London, in the fine ward of Tower. Tonight they shared their purpose and some interesting stories of the people that have made their homes in London and the UK.
I was very interested in the post-war Irish migration to Britain, and images reconstructing a bombed-out Britain. What is not always mentioned of the important role of Irish Women, from 1951 to 1991 greater numbers of women emigrated to Britain from the Republic of Ireland than men. These women were often young and travelling alone – atypical in migration patterns.
Ireland was no stranger to emigration, but the situation reached epidemic levels following the formation of the Republic of Ireland in 1949. Having severed ties with Britain, the country struggled politically and economically. The stats are startling – 1.6 million Irish left for Britain in the 20th century – with one in three people under the age of 30 in 1946 having left by 1971.
A fascinating story that links to my own family history in London. 🇨🇮🇬🇧
