Birmingham’s Irish community dates back centuries, starting with the Great Famine and significantly increasing around WWII. In 1967, the Irish Community Centre was founded on Digbeth High Street (demolished in 2020; a New Irish Centre can now be found in King’s Heath), and became a focal point for the Irish diaspora in the city.
While Irish immigrants and communities have moved about the city over the centuries, Birmingham’s so-called Irish Quarter remains the neighbourhood of Digbeth. This is the home of the world-famous St Patrick’s Parade, of course, which at its peak attracted over 80,000 people and was the world’s third biggest Parade.
In recent years, following disruptions from COVID-19 and major construction works (Digbeth is currently undergoing a multi-billion-pound regeneration right now driven by HS2, and multiple other projects), the Parade has unfortunately struggled to get going again—with some wondering if Digbeth’s Irish character has been lost.
Where to find Birmingham’s Irish Quarter?
Much like on the Emerald Isle, to go look for Irish spirit, you must start in the pub. Forget your O’Neill’s or Katie O’Brien’s; you will find only the truest, most authentic Irish bars in Digbeth, like Norton’s (aka ‘Birmingham’s best Irish pub’, according to The Telegraph), which hosts regular Irish music nights, serves a full Irish breakfast, and pours the best Guinness in the city.
“Irish culture is literally in our very DNA at Nortons,” Peter Connolly, owner of Nortons Digbeth, said. “Our motto “Slàinte Bab”, which is a portmanteau of the Irish for cheers and an affectionate Brummie term, highlights how important Birmingham and Irish culture are to us.”
But it’s far from the only Irish pub worth visiting. There’s The Sotted Dog—“the oldest family-run Irish pub in Digbeth”—Hennessy’s (which is great for watching sport thanks to its multiple screens) and Cleary’s, which remains a hidden gem, even for the area. Other local boozers with Irish connections include The Big Bull’s Head, The White Swan, The Old Crown and The Anchor.
Beyond the teach tábhairne, Digbeth is also home to an iconic mural of former US president JFK on Floodgate Street (he was America’s first Irish-Catholic president); and St Anne’s Catholic Church, which was one of the earliest community hubs for Birmingham’s Irish migrants, built in 1849. But if we’re really honest, the Irish Quarter is crying out for a strong return from St Patrick’s Parade… Slàinte bab!
