Irish Roots Run Deep in Yellowstone Country

Dia dhaoibh!

Or rather, “hello” — generally used in the Gaelic language when greeting a group. We’re heading into St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and we thought it was a fitting time to talk about the Irish influence in Montana’s Yellowstone Country. Of course, the most well-known town of Irish descent is our neighbor, Butte, just down the road. However, contrary to popular belief, Butte does not have the largest population of Irish (typically cited around 25%), but rather, Harlowtown, with 27% of the population claiming Irish descent.

In the late 1800s, fleeing Ireland after the Great Famine, Irish men and women flocked to southwest Montana in search of work. Here, hard rock mining was in full force, and Irishmen had a wealth of experience. They were also instrumental in building the railroad and were excited about owning land and businesses. You’ll find Irish influence in Bozeman, Livingston, Red Lodge and most notably, Big Timber.

Originally, the town was named Dornix (named by an Irish immigrant). The word is derived from the Gaelic word “dornog,” meaning a smooth stone you can hold in your hand, likely a reference to the rocky riverbed of the Boulder River. When the railroad came through, they found the trains couldn’t get momentum to get started again once they stopped, so they moved the town to the top of a hill and renamed it Big Timber, for the large cottonwood trees that lined the riverbed.

In 1880, two Irishmen, Charles McDonnell and Edward Veasey, drove 3,000 head of sheep from California to Big Timber, the start of a long line of sheep and cattle ranching in the area. In 1901, the first woolen mill in Montana was built in Big Timber, and at one time, Big Timber shipped more wool than any other city in the United States.

While St. Patrick’s Day began as a modest, Irish religious holiday, today it’s a celebration of Irish culture that still brings people together. Nearby in Melville, Café 191 will host a St. Patrick’s Day dinner on March 14. Red Lodge Mountain will feature green beer, Guinness and Irish specials at the Bierstube on that Saturday, and on the actual holiday, March 17, Red Lodge hosts a parade and dinner at the Elks Lodge, with live music and, of course, corned beef and cabbage.

Livingston is home to Fainting Goat Pub, a traditional pub with Irish fare (think — Irish stew, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie and fish and chips!)

In Bozeman, Pub 317 hosts the annual Run to the Pub, with all finishers entered into a drawing for several trips to Ireland! And the Bacchus Pub, located in the historic Baxter Hotel, also serves some great food and cheer. (Watch for their Reuben Rolls special: corned beef and cabbage mixed with cream cheese, then rolled, fried, and served with a Reuben sauce.)

We hope you enjoy the celebrations. Here’s to the luck of the Irish...