Everyone’s a little bit Irish around St. Patrick’s Day, but a whopping 22 million American (7.2 percent of the population) say their primary ancestry is Irish. 12 million more are of Irish and other roots. The latest Census revealed that 34.1 million Americans have Irish ancestry. That’s seven times the population of Ireland. Five million others claim Northern Irish roots.

The most Irish urban area is the Boston metro area with 20% of those living there claiming Irish ancestors. Boston is followed by Middlesex County, MA, and Peabody, MA. Across the country the Irish American community makes up 5 percent of the population in most counties. In New England, New York state, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania they represent 10 percent.

Here’s a list of the most Irish city areas:

1. Boston, MA - 20.4%

2. Middlesex County, MA - 16.9%

3. Peabody, MA - 15.8%

4. Albany, NY - 15.6%

5. Syracuse, NY - 15.0%

6. Worcester, MA - 14.8%

7. Camden, NJ - 14.8%

8. Philadelphia, PA - 14.2%

More Info: www.irishcentral.com