The Irish were a major immigrant group in the settlement of Nebraska, and although they blended into many communities because they spoke English, some formed colonies in America because of ancient animosities with Britain. The foremost such colony in Nebraska was O’Neill, proclaimed the Irish Capital of Nebraska by the Governor in 1969. O’Neill, the county seat of Holt County, was founded by General John O’Neill, a native of Ireland and veteran of the American Civil War. Called “general” by admirers because he commanded three Fenian incursions into British-governed Canada, he first directed colonists in 1874 to this fertile Elkhorn Valley site that bears his name. He also induced other Irish groups to settle at Atkinson in Holt County and in Greeley County. Many Irish who came to O’Neill had earlier emigrated to America because of famine and economic distress and had temporarily settled in eastern cities. Knowing the agricultural heritage of his people, General O’Neill said his object in founding Nebraska colonies was “to encourage poor people in getting away from the overcrowded cities of the East.”