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is this true

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  • 15-04-2009 3:01pm
    #1
    live2thewire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 246 ✭✭


    i read recently that irish workers built many of the railways across europe, but somehow i just doubt it.

    for that to happen there would have to have been at one point a large emmigration of irish to france(most likely) or somewhere else on mainland europe and i don't think this ever happened, at least it was never recorded.


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    #2
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,488 ✭✭✭Denerick


    Nah, not true. We did emigrate to France and other European countries in rather modest numbers in the 1600s though. Tens of thousands of Irishmen driven out by the Cromwellian wars fought all over Europe, looking for a good scrap :) I think that's why American's call us the fighting Irish :pac:

    After WWII there was a bit of a tradition from young Irish people to go to Germany or somewhere for the summer to help them rebuild the country. Many of those disgusting apartment blocks in German cities had been helped built by Irish seasonal emigrants.


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    #3
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    We certainly had a lot of people who worked on the UK railroads but I very much doubt the story about mainland Europe.


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