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To
the Irish
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The work of building a Pacific railroad was long and difficult. During the first two and a half years of construction little progress was made because much of the nation's men and material were devoted to the Civil War. By 1865 the veterans of this great conflict looked westward for work and opportunity. One of the largest groups among these men was the Irish, many of them recent immigrants as well as soldiers. |
It is not know exactly how many Irish were employed by the Union Pacific as they toiled westward across the great plains and the Rocky Mountains. However, records that were kept are dotted with names that suggest Irish heritage. It is believed that more Irish worked for the Union Pacific than any other ethnic group. The Central Pacific also employed a small number of Irish workers. |
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