Louise Ryan discuses two documents, both from the year 1937 including the Liverpool press, and an official report on the Irish Free State, to try and understand tensions between the governments, and local levels, of Irish free state citizens, as well as how often Irish women migrants where ignored, or excluded from history 

A question arose in parliament in 1937, over the policies in place regarding the southern Irish. Free state citizens within Britain had complex statuses, as those from Southern Ireland were not classed as citizens of the UK, unlike individuals from Northern Ireland. The free state, however, would change this, as it was known as part of the British empire, and would therefore give them the same rights. During this period, therefore, there was both the rise in Irish immigrations to Britain and an increase in demand for boundaries to be placed over the free entry of Irish  immigrants.  

The Liverpool press was described by Ryan as being a highly valuable source, as it represented the vocal, local concerns over the large influx in Irish Migrants during the 1930s. The article witnessed many of the prejudiced and discriminative views held against the Irish, and Catholic’s within the city, and was, therefore, no surprise that it played a key part In the lobbying leading to the inquiring on Irish immigration.  The negative views had been a key feature within Liverpool, with many street fights, and stone-throwing from anti-Irish racists, especially near dockland areas that became known as the Irish “ghettos” where the desired “undesirables” would live. The Irish were blamed for requiring an apparent great deal of public assistance expenditure, as well as an increase in crime rates, and the popularised “paddy” stereotype. Ryan also noted that women made up an overwhelming majority of Irish immigrants, and yet usually such press would refer to the problems of Irish-men, neglecting to mention, or acknowledge the female Irish presence, which was often attributed to the fact that many worked inside British homes as domestic servants, and were made invisible. Irish maids were also often called “foreign” servants, which shows the confusion around the status of Irish immigrants.

The inter-departmental inquiring was set up to investigate the numbers of Irish immigrants coming to Britain, and to see if they really were a burden, on public funds. There was discussion over the accuracy of many of these claims. Enda Delaney from the Conservative government was reluctant to impose restrictions on the Irish stating that they were British subjects, it would be both difficult and costly to impose restrictions, and that they were valuable reserves for the army of labour. Ryan goes on to highlight that the second source of focus. “Migration to Great Britain from the Irish Free State” was a report of the inter-departmental committee, which contained useful information that told of the many contractions that the British government made, over their views of Irish migrant labour. Many were disappointed however that it contained little up-to-date statistics when trying to determine if they were keeping local workers out of jobs.

The two sources represented both sides to the argument and how the government tried to lessen the issue of Irish immigration, and that they were actually described as being “from the same coin”. The Liverpool document highlighted both the growing criticisms and attacks against Irish immigrants, compared to the inter- departmental inquiry, that showed how the government tried to negotiate the sources of cheap labour, which was being viewed as “alien” but was very nervous to impose any restrictions at the time.