Here's how many Irish people live in Cook County and Illinois

Sure, everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's Day, but in Chicago, about 8% of the population can actually say that.

By the numbers: Despite the old tradition of candidates adopting an Irish surname to secure more votes, Cook County has far fewer descendants of the Emerald Isle than many other parts of the state.

• DuPage County's Irish population is 13% and McHenry's is 15%.
• The most Irish place in Illinois is Gallatin County in the far southern tip, with 18% of the population claiming Irish roots.
• The area, oddly enough, is nicknamed "Little Egypt."