By: Roderick Johnson
The next neighborhood in our social media spotlight series, ‘A Snap in the Neighborhood,’ is the Irish Channel! It is one of New Orleans most exciting and gorgeous neighborhoods. Most New Orleanians have fond memories of pre-covid activities such as the St. Paddy’s Day parade and the block party hosted by Tracy’s & Parasols.
From a neighborhood of working class immigrants to one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city, the Irish Channel has a long and storied history coupled with continuous growth. The largely working-class neighborhood was, as the name implies, originally settled by mostly immigrants from Ireland in the early 19th century. They came fleeing the great potato famine, looking for work. However, early on, the area also played host to residents of various ethnicities, including free African-Americans, Germans and Italians looking to make a better way for themselves.
Irish Channel residents are no strangers to also looking out for their fellow man. Famed philanthropist and one of the most influential women in New Orleans history, Eleanor McMain as known as the “Jane Addams of New Orleans,” grew up in this part of town. She was a settlement house worker and progressive reformer. She served as head resident of Kingsley House, the largest and most influential settlement house in the American South making it a focal point of progressive movements in the New Orleans area, The original Kingsley House was in the 1600 block of Constance Street.
One of New Orleans most popular streets run through the Irish Channel; Magazine Street running parallel to the Tchoupitoulas Street along the Riverbend. Magazine Street is 6 miles long and is a small business Mecca. Between amazing shops, even better food, and some of the coldest drinks in town. You can check out our Instagram page by clicking here to check our top 5 lists of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops in the area.
Buyers considering Irish Channel homes for sale, will notice the many small cottages and shotgun houses similar to what one would find in older New Orleans neighborhoods, its central location along the Mississippi River makes it a great neighborhood that seems to only improve with time. The historic charm and boutique shops attract young buyers, and the generations of well-established residents ride the wave of improvements as more and more become accessible within walking distance.
