Representing part of the first phase of a 5-year ethnographic research project, this report explores connections between school achievement and Irish ethnicity. Part 1 of the report reviews Irish history from 400 B.C. through the Irish famines of the mid-1800s, highlighting England's cultural and economic suppression of Ireland. Part 2 describes the harsh economic experience of Irish immigrants from 1820 to 1865, and discusses the ways in which this experience helped frame Irish identity in America. Focusing on the period from 1865 to 1930, part 3 explores the ways in which Irish-Americans facilitated the creation of a new identity through the control of local politics; the use of community and volunteer organizations to support the integration of new Irish-Americans; the development of parallel social structures; and the creation of parochial schools as alternatives to public education. Part 4 examines the acculturation and economic achievements of Irish-Americans, and discusses the role of the family in contributing to academic achievement. This section also examines several studies and oral histories that explore the ways in which Irish ethnicity deeply influences the identity of Irish-Americans. Part 5 suggests ways to promote academic success in Irish-American children, and asserts that the study of a people's history can help one interpret current patterns of response to ethnic differences. A list of 93 references is included. (MM)