St. Patrick's Day fun facts

Impress your friends at the pubs with St. Patrick's Day and Irish heritage fun facts
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<i>From the U.S. Census</i><br> <br> <b>36 million</b><br> The number of U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (slightly more than 4 million). Irish is the nation's second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German.<br> <br> <b>24 percent</b><br> The percent of Massachusetts residents who are of Irish ancestry. This compares with a corresponding rate of 12 percent for the nation as a whole. (Photo by Chicago Tribune/Nancy Stone)<br> <br> Source: 2006 American Community Survey

Population Distribution

From the U.S. Census

36 million
The number of U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (slightly more than 4 million). Irish is the nation's second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German.

24 percent
The percent of Massachusetts residents who are of Irish ancestry. This compares with a corresponding rate of 12 percent for the nation as a whole. (Photo by Chicago Tribune/Nancy Stone)

Source: 2006 American Community Survey