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Scots-Irish Heritage

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The Scots/Irish are sometimes called the Scotch/Irish, but both pronunciations are acceptable. The roots of the Scots/Irish go back to Scotland, but don't think of tartans or bagpipes. They were Lowlanders, mostly coming from the border regions of Galloway, Dumfries, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Argyllshire and Lanarkshire in the west and Edinburgh, the Lothians and Berwichshire in the east. They spoke English and were Protestant, specifically Presbyterian.This bit of information has recently come to me through a friend:Just as a pit of info for you. Many of those who left Scotland for the Plantation did not speak English, in fact most did not.Many came from Galloway and Ayrshire where forms of Gaelic still survived in the Lowlands.In addition the rest spoke what was called Lallans or Scots or Lowland Scots. Essentially it is the English dialect spoken in the Lowlands of Scotland, via the Scottish Gaelic way of pronouncing of things, with Scottish vocab.While in Ireland many of our ancestors intermarried with Irish Gaels, thus making Irish Gaelic in our language background as well.

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In the past the Armies of the Colonies, the U.S., and England highly valued free Scots-Irish men and encouraged them to join special regiments because of their fierce nature and feisty personalities. For anyone who has ever known someone who is of Scots-Irish heritage or is Scots-Irish, knows of this feisty personality.

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The Scots-Irish, like other groups of American immigrants, came to the New World to escape economic and religious hardships. Wealthy people and people of influence rarely braved the harsh Atlantic voyage. The Scots-Irish had plenty of reason to come, and come they did. It's estimated that between 1717 and 1775, a quarter-million people emigrated from Ulster to America. At the time of the American Revolution, at least one out of every 15 Americans was Scots-Irish.Ocean travel was not inexpensive, and most often the people willing to make the trip were the ones who could least afford it. Most came as indentured servants. Someone in America would pay for the passage, and the traveler would labor in return for a period of time, usually between one and seven years. At the term's end, the person usually had acquired a trade. In addition, some were given clothes and money. Not all indentured servants were treated well, however. Some were handled more harshly than slaves from Africa because indentured servants were temporary help, not valued property.clip from "ON EAGLE'S WING" stage play telling the story of the Ulster-Scots / Scotch-Irish of how they left the lowlands of Scotland during the "killing times" along with the Border Reiver clans and set up home in Ulster / Northern Ireland only to face persecution whereby some sailed west to America. Produced by Ulsterman John Anderson with Ulsterman Peter Corry starring alongside Scots woman Alyth McCormack.BUY DVD: http://www.oneagleswing.co.uk/

Music:

There are many stories in history where Scots-Irish soldiers fought to the last man for their cause. An example is during the French Indian War. An entire unit of Scots-Irish volunteers were wiped out by the Cherokee in the Appalachians.. It was later said by one of the Indian braves that the Scots-Irish fought like devils.

Movies:

All through American history the Scots-Irish have had their influence. Some famous Scots-Irish were John Hancock, Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, Woodrow Wilson, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland to name a few.

Television:

The Scots-Irish were playing the same fiddle tunes and singing the same ballads his or her great-great grandparents had played and sang back in Ulster. It was only after the railroads and coal mining came to the Appalachians that this hidden musical treasure would be exposed.While the Scots-Irish vocal style, haunting melodies and storytelling tradition is nothing if not country, it took the introduction of the guitar to the Appalachians to create the final bridge between the old and the new. Far superior for singing accompaniment than the high-pitched, often abrasive fiddle, the guitar brought with it the possibility of rhythm, which would move the music closer to the sound and feel that characterizes what we today have come to know as country music.These are some examples of the music of Appalachia.Sprout Wings and Fly
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Add to My Profile | More VideosTHE FLAT MOUNTAIN GIRLSSome modern day influences on music have been Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Alison Kraus and many others.

Books:

The Scots-Irish were defenders of religion, custom and pride. This influence has carried on and Country music today similarly exalts religion without embarrassment. Among performers, only African/Americans acknowledge their Maker with the same regularity and reverence. One of the first hit records of country music was the gospel song "Peace in the Valley".Virtually all of the most famous country performers either were children of preachers or had learned to sing in church. Even some of the worst hillbillies, drunks, profligates, and ex-cons piously sing gospel songs on their albums.An example of church music from the Appalachians.OLD TYME MOUNTAIN MUSIC

Heroes:

With their strength, their culture, their beliefs, their courage, their values, their families, their blood, their lives the Scots-Irish helped to build the foundations that made America great.The Scots-Irish have a long and proud history in the United States and I am proud to call myself one.But at one time it was considered a bad thing. An old saying went - "The only thing lower than an Irishman is a Scotsman and the only thing lower than a Scotsman is a Scots-Irish." That is the reason many Scots-Irish called themselves Irish. Interesting enough in Ireland the Scots-Irish call themselves Scottish.Historically the Scots-Irish have produced presidents, explorers, astronauts, musicians, entertainers, preachers and policemen as well as the occasional scoundrel, crook and moonshiner.It was the Scots-Irish and their pride of family and country that helped to build the foundations that made the U.S. the greatest country in the world.I am proud to be Scots-Irish and American.