In his 27th book, The St. Louis Irish: An Unmatched Celtic Community, historian William Barnaby Faherty, S.J., explores one of St. Louis’ most enduring communities and tells its fascinating story.
“I subscribed to magazines about Irish in America, and I never could find anything about St. Louis and its people,” Faherty said.
“In books about the Irish, I found an unflattering picture that failed to match what I had learned about my fellow Irish in St. Louis, so I decided to fill that gap,” Faherty continued.
Faherty is Professor Emeritus in History at Saint Louis University and currently serves as director of the Museum of Western Jesuit Missions.
Faherty’s book traces the Irish from 19th century, when St. Louis transformed from a French-founded frontier village into a booming industrial city dominated by Germans. The arrival of the Irish brought on a new culture and heritage to St. Louis.
The St. Louis Irish: An Unmatched Celtic Community uses maps and a detailed narrative to show how the city’s new community forever changed St. Louis.
Some of Faherty’s other works include Dream by the River: Two Centuries of Saint Louis Catholicism, 1766-1967; St. Louis: A Concise History and A Wall for San Sabastian, which was made into a movie starring Anthony Quinn.
Book signings have been held across the city. Two special signing were held during St. Patrick’s Day weekend..
Copies of The St. Louis Irish: An Unmatched Celtic Community are available for purchase at the Louisiana Purchase, Missouri History Museum Shop and from the University of Missouri Press at 1-800-828-1894.
