2. LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Describe the main industries in which the Irish
worked in Scotland
• Describe the living conditions that the Irish faced
in Scotland

3. Whilst life in Scotland was better for most of the Irish, it was
not easy. The Irish worked in many hard jobs and also
faced very poor living conditions.

4. The Irish did a variety
of jobs, depending
on where they lived
in Scotland.
Most worked in
factories although
others worked in the
coal and iron
industries too.

5. Some Irish worked in
industries such as farming
using skills from home.
Others took on seasonal
work, moving where they
were needed.
Good examples of this
include railway workers
(known as navvies).

6. The working conditions that
the Irish faced were usually
very difficult.
There were few workplace
laws at the time.
Also the Irish were often
poorly educated. This
meant accepting low
wages at work.

7. Housing conditions were
often very poor for the Irish.
At the time most housing in
Scotland was of a poor
standard.
As new and poor
immigrants, the Irish had to
live in the worst
accommodation.

8. Overcrowding was a major
problem too.
In 1871, 41% of Irish families
lived in one room homes
(known as single ends).
Houses were often very
poorly built with little
decent sanitation. Vermin
was common too.

9. Diseases were very
common. Cholera,
typhus and tuberculosis
were common killers.
This was because of the
poor housing and
sanitation, as well as
poor diets and drinking
dirty water.

10. Other Scots believed that
the Irish were violent and
had poor morals.
Many others opposed
Catholicism, meaning
they opposed mass Irish
immigration. The Irish
religious divide did not
help here.