09/17/2026
What did your Irish ancestors do after settling in New Jersey during the Great Hunger?
For families who fled hunger in Ireland, reaching America was only the beginning. In New Jersey, Irish immigrants built rail lines, worked in mills and factories, and cooked, cleaned, and cared for children in other people’s homes.
Many worked long hours and still found a way to send money home to family in Ireland. Some saved enough to bring loved ones across the Atlantic.
Look at the generations that followed. The descendants of those workers became business leaders, doctors and nurses, attorneys, police officers, firefighters, and leaders throughout our communities. The people who arrived with so little helped build futures they may never have imagined.
What work did your Irish ancestors find when they came to New Jersey? We’d be honored to hear your family’s story: www.globalirishfaminewaynj.org
