My dad and six brothers , and three sisters ,all came over from Sligo in the late fifties early sixties ,I think they should erect a statue in honour of the Irish workforce who rebuilt Britain' during the 50,s 60,s and 70,s ,I'm proud of my heritage.
We too over here in Ireland are proud of your father and your uncle's, because of their hard work back then, it makes it easier for young Irish people to get work the the world over, and yes there should be some sort of statue or monument erected to all those Irish men and women who built Britain. 👍🇮🇪
@James Farrell My background is not dissimilar but they made a better life for us. My younger sister is a solicitor, my middle sister has retired but with an income from property and I am a barrister - all with our own houses and worldwide travel & it is thanks to them
My dad came to London in around 1965. He worked on so many different places between there and Southampton, Kent, etc.. The stories about the drinking and womanising and violence were absolutely shocking. Still are. He was a rough, hard man.
They were here for the work and the money, but their contribution to the rebuild of English cities should never be overlooked and never be forgotten, they were a powerful force ☘️
Without a doubt the Irish built most of the buildings in London and beyond between the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, my ol fella came over in 51 and went straight on the tools as a chippy and 4 of his son's followed suit including meself, it was hard work but a great craic at the same time and it is great to see our children are not having to lift a shovel or a hammer, instead now they are the engineers, the architects, the site agents and fair play to em, even though it was great money and a good craic, it was also hard on the body, you will see plenty of good men now all twisted and bent from them days, horrible to see but now it is good to see our youngsters being educated so they don't need break their backs to earn a pound🇮🇪.
I was in Camden in the late 90s in Rosie o gradys watching a football International, Ireland against someone on the TV , when Ireland scored ,the commentator commented something like "and they will be going mad in the pubs of north london" The dozen or so of us in the pub laughed. The Irish were gone by then. The era was gone..
Yeah that Jubilee Line was a shit job. The prison camp mentality had taken hold by then. It was a hateful place to work as are all the big government jobs now. I walked off the Tideway job not long ago, couldn't work with the morons and brainwashed backstabbers.
Many nationalities built London and the UK: British, Polish, Irish. It was clearly impossible for the huge workforce needed to dig the British canals and ports and construct the extensive British railway system to have migrated from Ireland. Labour from all over the world was involved, just as it is today in the construction of British infrastructure like motorways, Crossrail and HS2.
agh the best part of this video is the young fella reciting a song as a poem written by Dominic Behan and the young fella I'd say never worked a shovel in his life nor will he with baby soft hands aww poor baba.
Oisin O'Halloran he doesnt need to have, hes proud of the effort his countrymen made. Thankfully he has an education and wont waste his life on the shovel.
@@paddymac5161 why do you assume a life on a shovel was a waste.. London underground wouldnt exist if not for the navies who devoted their lives to the shovel..
@@paddymac5161 That's a bit harsh to say you waste your life on a shovel. Generations of men have worked that way. At the very least they will have a physical fitness and stamina from the shovel -though sadly a tendency to drink.
Were you a building contractor in the 1950s? Or is it a royal “we”? It’s a reference to a song title. Starship (formerly Jefferson Starship, formerly Jefferson Airplane). They’re not claiming nobody else had a hand in it. Just that there was a disproportionate amount of Irish. That’s just a simple fact. The title isn’t supposed to be taken literally.
This is all silly .You are right that many nations built London.UA-cam isn't meant to be a debating society. But if you are from here like me you must agree with the guys comment that nobody "gives" you anything here .
@@superjohnnygamble6328 in answer to your question ,the English hired us because we're the best at the type of work they needed done. Don't take my word for it, do a little research for instance where did TML go to recruit workers to build the Channel Tunnel. You'll find they went to the country where the best people are and held interviews in hotels all over that country and got a fantastic workforce of which I was one. Do some research and stop talking shite.
Opinions from young ones and academics who never worked a day in their lives in the tunnels and buildings. Get the real men to tell the story or else "feck off"!
If the Irish are so wonderful and built London (and practically everything else in Britain, it seems) why don't they build the same in Ireland, and stop hanging on British coat tails?
+ old dude you're a bit late with your comment most of these immigrants have returned to their homeland retired or passed away , be better of venting your bigotry and anger at the masses of third world migrants flooding the inner cities and exhausting your resources
Why didnt british men get off thier arses and do abit of work in thier own country? The shame they must suffer knowing immigrants built the towns and cities they love.
My dad and six brothers , and three sisters ,all came over from Sligo in the late fifties early sixties ,I think they should erect a statue in honour of the Irish workforce who rebuilt Britain' during the 50,s 60,s and 70,s ,I'm proud of my heritage.
We too over here in Ireland are proud of your father and your uncle's, because of their hard work back then, it makes it easier for young Irish people to get work the the world over, and yes there should be some sort of statue or monument erected to all those Irish men and women who built Britain. 👍🇮🇪
Very proud of my parents, relatives and all their friends who worked hard to make a better life for themselves and everyone around them
@James Farrell My background is not dissimilar but they made a better life for us. My younger sister is a solicitor, my middle sister has retired but with an income from property and I am a barrister - all with our own houses and worldwide travel & it is thanks to them
My dad came to London in around 1965. He worked on so many different places between there and Southampton, Kent, etc.. The stories about the drinking and womanising and violence were absolutely shocking. Still are. He was a rough, hard man.
Makes you proud to be irish. The builders of the world, love my heritage 💚
@@djharto4917 its opportunity and lack of opportunity. That's all.
Worked hard ,drank hard ,played hard ,what a people back then
They were here for the work and the money, but their contribution to the rebuild of English cities should never be overlooked and never be forgotten, they were a powerful force ☘️
Without a doubt the Irish built most of the buildings in London and beyond between the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, my ol fella came over in 51 and went straight on the tools as a chippy and 4 of his son's followed suit including meself, it was hard work but a great craic at the same time and it is great to see our children are not having to lift a shovel or a hammer, instead now they are the engineers, the architects, the site agents and fair play to em, even though it was great money and a good craic, it was also hard on the body, you will see plenty of good men now all twisted and bent from them days, horrible to see but now it is good to see our youngsters being educated so they don't need break their backs to earn a pound🇮🇪.
Great men and great Women.
Good on ya Darren!
I was in Camden in the late 90s in Rosie o gradys watching a football International, Ireland against someone on the TV , when Ireland scored ,the commentator commented something like "and they will be going mad in the pubs of north london" The dozen or so of us in the pub laughed. The Irish were gone by then. The era was gone..
Thank you so much for this documentary
ThNk you to all the irish men and women before me and i am 72 and i am young.
yes,and so on in America.thank you berne.
Jubilee Line Extension in the mid 90s… worst year of my life 😢 Berlin a few years later…. Best time of my life 🇩🇪
Yeah that Jubilee Line was a shit job. The prison camp mentality had taken hold by then. It was a hateful place to work as are all the big government jobs now. I walked off the Tideway job not long ago, couldn't work with the morons and brainwashed backstabbers.
Paddy has being going to England a long time now I was happy to go in 1960 money was good I get a small pension now I don't say no to it
Hi Kit ,My mother gets her tiny pension from England too and by God did she slave for it .
God bless you
Many nationalities built London and the UK: British, Polish, Irish. It was clearly impossible for the huge workforce needed to dig the British canals and ports and construct the extensive British railway system to have migrated from Ireland. Labour from all over the world was involved, just as it is today in the construction of British infrastructure like motorways, Crossrail and HS2.
Good job ye said Belmullet
A woman who has pretty much erased her ulster accent is talking about Irish pride
Have we all gone?
Best thing theyy did allong with hard work was deceny,giving people respect along with a bit of craic.up the irish.
agh the best part of this video is the young fella reciting a song as a poem written by Dominic Behan and the young fella I'd say never worked a shovel in his life nor will he with baby soft hands aww poor baba.
Oisin O'Halloran he doesnt need to have, hes proud of the effort his countrymen made. Thankfully he has an education and wont waste his life on the shovel.
Paddy Mac well said brother I'm a product of those times and glad to see them over.Knowledge is power !
Then again Dominic Behan never worked a day in his life either. As his own brother once said, "the only time he ever held a hod was for a photograph."
@@paddymac5161 why do you assume a life on a shovel was a waste..
London underground wouldnt exist if not for the navies who devoted their lives to the shovel..
@@paddymac5161 That's a bit harsh to say you waste your life on a shovel.
Generations of men have worked that way. At the very least they will have a physical fitness and stamina from the shovel -though sadly a tendency to drink.
Well fair enough but have w
E disappeared now??
Balfour Beatty
Thank the english we gave you work, it was all the nation's that built London, jesus,
Were you a building contractor in the 1950s? Or is it a royal “we”?
It’s a reference to a song title. Starship (formerly Jefferson Starship, formerly Jefferson Airplane). They’re not claiming nobody else had a hand in it. Just that there was a disproportionate amount of Irish. That’s just a simple fact. The title isn’t supposed to be taken literally.
You gave us nothing, we earned everything we got.
This is all silly .You are right that many nations built London.UA-cam isn't meant to be a debating society.
But if you are from here like me you must agree with the guys comment that nobody "gives" you anything here .
@@seamusburke9101I know you earned the money but who gave you the Jobs
@@superjohnnygamble6328 in answer to your question ,the English hired us because we're the best at the type of work they needed done. Don't take my word for it, do a little research for instance where did TML go to recruit workers to build the Channel Tunnel. You'll find they went to the country where the best people are and held interviews in hotels all over that country and got a fantastic workforce of which I was one. Do some research and stop talking shite.
Navvies!
The facts are irish built the uk give credit where credit is due
The new Irish emigrating now are highly educated.....no more Irish contractors abusing their own!
There are not there anymore Irish buildings are buried with their wife's in Hammersmith and Fulham and kensal green.
Going back in history, rebuilt what was our country...irony!
Opinions from young ones and academics who never worked a day in their lives in the tunnels and buildings. Get the real men to tell the story or else "feck off"!
Thank you to lovely young people who made this documentary for older Irish people delighted were not forgotten thank you once again
waster
If the Irish are so wonderful and built London (and practically everything else in Britain, it seems) why don't they build the same in Ireland, and stop hanging on British coat tails?
+ old dude you're a bit late with your comment most of these immigrants have returned to their homeland retired or passed away , be better of venting your bigotry and anger at the masses of third world migrants flooding the inner cities and exhausting your resources
They are 110 000 british immigrants in ireland which has a population 4 million compared to 300 000 irish in a nation of 60 million. old man
Well said!
Why didnt british men get off thier arses and do abit of work in thier own country? The shame they must suffer knowing immigrants built the towns and cities they love.
Because for 800 years Ireland was under rule by the toothless chavs and to be honest most cities in England look like shitholes anyway