By Tom Deignan

Along Katonah Avenue in Woodlawn, this once-entirely Irish strip has seen some diversification of late, with non-Irish immigrants now operating several delis, hardware stores and other businesses.

Given that New York City’s hallmark is immigrant diversity, in most neighborhoods this would be no big deal. But in light of recent trends in Irish immigration, the changeover raises serious questions about the Irish in the north Bronx, as well as Woodside, Queens, and Irish enclaves across New York.

A few weeks back, The New York Times ran a large story highlighting a fact that most people in New York’s Irish American community already knew — the Irish are leaving New York, and not nearly as many are returning.

“We haven’t seen an exodus like this since the mid-1990s,” said Siobhan Dennehy, executive director of the Emerald Irish Immigration Center (EIIC), which has offices in both Woodlawn and Woodside.

This begs the questions — can a few non-Irish stores in Irish neighborhoods be seen as the beginning of the end of the Irish in New York?

Dennehy and many others interviewed recently by the Irish Voice agreed that a number of factors have developed in recent years to make life for the New York Irish increasingly unattractive. 

Everything from dramatic post-September 11 immigration reforms to Ireland’s new prosperity have created something of a perfect storm, a powerful combination of forces which has begun to drain New York of many Irish.

Of course, hard numbers are impossible to come by. But some Irish moving companies say they have been busy seven days a week, 24 hours a day. And “For Sale” or “For Rent” signs grace many houses in Irish neighborhoods. 

Meanwhile, beyond the questions of how this came to be, other difficult questions hover. What can actually be done about the declining number of Irish in New York City? 

Some advocates, opposed to the presence of any undocumented immigrants in New York, vocally wonder if anything even should be done about the declining number of Irish in New York City.

Either way, some fear that New York is slowly but surely losing its Irish accent for the first time in its 400 year history.

“I think we will see the decline of these remaining Irish neighborhoods,” said Clare Bennett, whose parents came to the U.S. from Mayo, and who is also an administrator with the Irish Business Organization of New York. 

“Unable to find jobs or keep existing jobs, and with the inability to go home to visit family, I think we’ll see more and more people return to Ireland.” 

Bennett added, “Without a green card in this country it has become impossible for all these people to lead lives over here, to find any jobs, let alone decent ones, and I think with Bush’s reelection they really have no hope for the next four years.” 

Not everyone in the Irish community, of course, sees things in such a dire fashion. But most do agree that, these days, it’s often just easier for an Irish immigrant to stay in Ireland.

Others note that this concern goes far beyond questions about jobs and driver’s licenses. In the wake of September 11 there has also been a surge of questions revolving around Irish political activity in the U.S. Deportation for political activity, of course, has become a hot button issue in Irish circles.

Just before the recent presidential election, a coalition of Irish American groups wrote an open letter to Congress. The letter criticized congressional proposals which, the Irish American groups say, would allow Irish immigrants to be deported for defending the IRA and its use of weapons against military targets. 

The Irish American groups also criticized a proposal to expand the government’s power to deport some non-citizens without a hearing or court intervention.

The letter was sent by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish American Unity Conference, Irish Deportees of America Committee, Irish Northern Aid, Irish National Caucus and Lawyers Alliance for Justice in Ireland.

But with George W. Bush’s victory in the election, many fear these concerns will not be addressed. So, Irish American activists have become increasingly concerned about how the Irish can remain in the U.S.

“This is the first time we have not been able to circumvent a problem of this magnitude,” said EIIC’s Dennehy, a veteran of past Irish immigration battles going back to the 1980s. “I’m surprised there aren’t more people up in arms.” 

Dennehy is among those who, at the moment, do not see much hope in the various immigration reform proposals kicking around Washington, including the Bush administration’s “guest worker” proposal.

“There’s nothing out there right now,” said Dennehy, adding that any reform proposal should aim to “improve immigration between the U.S. and Ireland.” 

On the other hand, Dennehy does not believe the day is coming when New York will lose its Irish accent. She said many young professionals still contact the EIIC looking for information about living in New York.

The big question, according to Dennehy, is — will they ever get here?

Others, meanwhile, are focusing on the Irish who are already here. 

John Guerrera, a vice president with New York’s Irish Business Organization, says Irish social groups in the U.S. should make sure the Irish who are in New York City understand the range of services and benefits available to them. The Irish, Guerrera and others note, are struggling with the U.S. economy as well as immigration laws.

“I can’t afford to live where I grew up,” said Guerrera, whose mother was born in Mayo before the family settled in Rockland County. 

Guerrera thinks the Irish should network more at the business level so that they have an economic incentive to stay in the U.S.

Guerrera did say his own organization has seen membership dip slightly in recent years. A former president even returned to live in Ireland.

“There’s just something that’s more attractive about Ireland right now,” said Guerrera.

(Contact Sidewalks at tdeignan@irishvoice.com)