There is a large part of the Catskill area that is known for something pretty cool.

So, there really is a lot to learn about New York State. The other day I mentioned that I had to drive in the East Durham area of New York. Something pretty cool I learned is that is known for being the "Irish Alps of New York."

Many people from Ireland came to the East Durham area in the early 1900s and brought their Irish heritage and culture to the area.  Every year there is a pretty big Irish festival in May and it all makes sense why the area is called the "Emerald Isle of the Catskills."

SEE ALSO: Have You Ever Been To The "Irish Alps of New York" Before?

Turns out, there are a few other towns that make up the "Irish Alps of New York" and the whole area might be a lot bigger than anyone realized.

Can't say we are too surprised, it must be a pretty big area if it gets a nickname.

More details on the "Irish Alps of New York" and how it was started:

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According to officials, when many Irish immigrants came to the area they looked for opportunities to renovate old barns and boarding houses to make them into hotels and upstate New York gave them plenty of opportunity to do this.

Officials also said that Irish immigrants became homesick and they were looking for a familiar landscape, similar people to be around, and the same culture to make them feel closer to home...this just so happened to be in upstate New York.

This is pretty cool too, there's a documentary on PBS called, "The Irish Catskills: Dancing at the Crossroads" that shows viewers all about Irish Cultural Heritage and goes into more detail on how people of Irish descent ended up in the Catskills area.

What other towns help make up the "Irish Alps of New York" and why?

There are a few more, some other areas that reportedly help make up the "Irish Alps of New York" are:

  • Leeds (Greene County)
  • South Cairo (Greene County)
  • Oak Hill (Greene County)

Like we said before, many people were drawn to the lush landscapes that upstate New York had to offer and others wanted to be around similar people. It's pretty cute that the legacy still lives on and there are still businesses and people who help keep the Irish charm going and help with the uniqueness of the area.

Have you been to the "Irish Alps of New York" before? Where's your favorite spot to check out? Let us know on the station app"

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Since we are speaking of New York, how about showing you another area? Here are some pretty creepy wooded spots that would be perfect to film a horror movie in and turn pretty spooky as soon as the sun sets:

Best Wooded Area to Film a Horror Movie in the Hudson Valley

Ever wonder where the perfect woods in the Hudson Valley would be to film a scary movie in? Here are the best choices according to Hudson Vally residents:

Gallery Credit: Google Maps