McAlpine's Fusiliers

English

Etymology

After Sir Robert McAlpine, a major employer of Irish workmen, and (possibly) the military appearance of a group of men with shovels over their shoulders.

Noun

McAlpine's Fusiliers pl (plural only)

1. (Ireland, UK, informal) The Irish immigrant labour force in Britain in the early 20th century.
   • 2006, Kevin Noble, Baghdad Trucker, Durham: Northern Writers, page 92:

     He'd left his homeland at fifteen, seeking his fortune on the motorways of Britain with McAlpine's Fusiliers before migrating to Sydney.

Usage notes

The term was popularised by the 1960s Dubliners song of the same name.