The warm and friendly residents enjoy mingling with visitors who regularly stop by the centrally-located Irish Town Café to soak up the atmosphere of this unique Jamaican community and enjoy stunning views of the city. The community is virtually crime-free with the officers at its police station enjoying a very healthy relationship with the residents.

Irish Town boasts a rich offering of Jamaica’s natural beauty: natural water features, rich vegetation, gorgeous mountain ranges and enviable views of the Kingston skyline and the Caribbean Sea. The community is steeped in the best of Jamaica’s intriguing culture, including an active Rastafarian community. Mount Zion Hill is an authentic self-reliant Rastafari commune of over fifty residents who rely on subsistence farming. Though militant in their rejection of “Babylon”, the residents regularly journey to the famous Papine Square (located at the foot of the hills) on Saturdays to hold a Nyabinghi Sabbath Service consisting of drumming and dancing.

Another community standout is the St Mark’s Chapel, a quaint little clapboard place of worship. Graves dating back to the mid-19th century are housed in its small cemetery.

Come enjoy hiking around the area’s forest trails and waterfalls.. As you travel along the narrow, winding roads, drive carefully, pay attention to the signs and stop for a while to have a nice chat with the ever-welcoming residents.

The Irie Connection

Seven (7) Irish-Jamaican Facts

• #FACT1

  25% of Jamaica’s claim Irish ancestors. Irish people are the second-largest reported ethnic group in Jamaica after Jamaicans of African ancestry.

• #FACT2

  The Jamaica accent share elements of the Irish accent. The Irish lived with the newly arrived African slaves. Some taught the slaves the English language. The Irish guttural accent is still evident today.

• #FACT3

  Both Ireland and Jamaica were British colonies. Ireland gained their independence in 1921 and Jamaica in 1962

• #FACT4

  Jamaica is dotted with Irish place names like Irish Town, Clonmel, Dublin Castle, Kildare, Sligoville, Belfast, Athenry.

• #FACT5

  Irish Moss is…exactly as it say’s – Irish. During Ireland’s famine in the 1850’s, to survive the Irish drank the seaweed. Those who emigrated to Jamaica during the famine found the same seaweed growing on the coast in Jamaica. Long before high-protein drinks or energy boosters, the Irish in Jamaica had their own supper fuel drink.

• #FACT6

  The Maroon Morris dance, brought to Jamaica by indentured servants from England, Scotland, and Ireland.

• #FACT7

  Although Jamaica and Ireland are small islands, both nationalities are identifiable worldwide, the Irish and Jamaican cultures and their people have made a clear stamp internationally. Jamaican’s who claim Irish heritage are, Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, Donovan Bailey, Claude McKay, and the rapper SPOT.