Somewhere, way back, I have some ancestors from Ireland. My last name of Barry is certainly very Irish. Imagine my surprise when I first saw the name Barry as a surname among a few Argentines. Of coure, it’s pretty rare and these folks have first names like Juan or Luis. I just imagine that my cousins back in Tennessee might find the idea of a Juan Barry rather humorous but the Irish/Argentine blend does exist. I aim to find out more about it and see if I can locate any long, long lost cousins. The best place to start such a search is with the Irish Argentine Historical Society, an international group that is examining the lives, settlements, and achievements of the Irish in Argentina. I don’t know why but genealogy and family history are big things for anyone with Irish roots.
Founded only in 2003, the Irish Argentine Historical Society is busy working on a number of research projects and educational programs. The executive committee consists of researchers and individuals from around the world who are interested in Irish migration patterns. (When I moved to Miami I also was surprised to learn that the Irish had also went to Cuba).
The Irish Argentine Historical Society’s web site consists of several fascinating sections. An introduction provides background for those with little knowledge of Irish emigration to Argentina. Another section provides information about the Irish counties with high rates of emigration to Latin America. The “Journey” section has articles about 19th and early 20th century travel to South America including a list of 7,000 names of Irish who arrived in Buenos Aires. The “settlement” section has an extensive list of Irish settlers in Argentina as well as burial records. Some oral histories are also available.
What an incredible resource! I’ll be spending a lot of time with this material!
July 11th, 2005 at 7:30 pm
[...] Jeff Barry discusses the history of the Irish in Argentina. [...]
January 17th, 2006 at 5:17 am
Irish surnames are common here in Argentina Irish is the fourth ethnic group after Italians, Spanish (mostly Basques and Galicians) and Germans.
O’Connel, O’Connor, Lynch, Murphy just to name afew of the people I know with irish surnames.
Friday, 18 March 2005, was Saint Patrick’s Day.
The Irish Community and St Patrick’s in Buenos Aires …….
The fifth largest Irish community in the world is in Argentina, and it’s important to point out that Argentina is a non-English speaking country.
Hence the more than 500,000 Irish-Argentinean families living in Argentina today are a great example in terms of traditions and cultural heritage power, surviving after over a century and a half taking in consideration the huge and inevitable language barrier.
But Argentina was, and still is an official Catholic country with freedom of cult -for all the other religions and cults-, and this was a great input for those Irish catholics who were running away from the British protestant power.
All and all, it were the broad and huge pampas who welcomed the new immigrants into a world of work in the fields and the posibility of surviving on something else than potatoes. The west frontier was still open -alike in the US- and by 1850s the sheep cattle grew at an amazing rate, together with Spanish and Italian immigrants, the Irish population that set in Argentina were helping this upcoming country to develop into a Nation.
Argentina was built on those pilars of hard work and great tolerance, our culture has always been a melting pot in which all recognize their differences and similarities, were homeland traditions are preserved and new, local ones, are included, bringing up to life a unique combination. It shall raise no eyebrows then the great deal of importance St Patrick’s day has in our country, not just for Irish families, but to us all in general -Irish, French, Italian, Spanish… all Argentines in one sense… Ireland patron, St Patrick is known worldwide for his works converting the Irish to Catholicism, he then -during the 5th century AF- needn’t to root off the Celtic customs, but to lead them into a broader universe of beliefs in Catholicism, his didactic means to teach Godspeed using the shamrock have become a symbol of Catholic Ireland, and throughout the world March 17th it’ s the day of festivity to recall upon their Saint -who’s also said to have taught the Irish how to distillate alcohol from malt and barley, hence the importance of beer in this celebration.
Yesterday on March 17th 2005, Buenos Aires’s most Irish quarter in Retiro area dressed up in Green and over 60,000 people celebrated St. Patricks, not with a parade but a street party throughout 10 blocks… During the days masses were celebrated at BA’s Irish churches and throughout the Buenos Aires province, were the largest part of the Irish community is located.
I was a superb party, filled with joy and excitement, loud and beautiful Irish folk music being plaid until early hours of the morning, dancing and celebrating. For the last 15 years this has been the preferential location for St Patrick ’s celebration in BA, specially growing in terms of non Irish participants for the great impact of Irish culture worldwide.
But even before the great flow of immigrants came to Argentina, our history has been tied to Irish outstanding personalities ………
But did ytou know why we should celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in Argentina ?
………..such as one of our nation’s forefathers Admiral William Brown born in Foxford in 1777 he was to command a squadron of seven ships with which on Saint Patrick’s Day in 1841, he captured the fort of Martin Garcia, called “The Gibraltar of the La Plata”.
Following many successful battles, he acted as Argentine Commissioner throughout the Independece wars and even more he’s doings seatled - when at the close of the war- the Liberty of Buenos Aires by the treaty of Montevideo on October 4th 1827.
Just an example, not that we’d tell each Irishmen and women’s life’s in our country, for not all are as renamed as Admiral Brown, but each and every one of them with their hands and loving heart helped this country, their country, to become a nation.
Happy St. Patricks and may the luck of the Irish be yours today!
Email Bob Frassinetti.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I have become interested in trying to trace the descendants of my great uncle Bernardo Mahon who went to Argentina from Longford Ireland he is mentioned in Rosario census of 1895 can anyone help
April 21st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
[...] someone with Irish ancestry (way, way back), I’ve written a bit before about Irish immigration to Argentina. A great resource for this topic is the wonderful Irish [...]
April 5th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Hi, I am from Cork City in Ireland and would like to know do you have an Irish newspaper for Irish immigrants or do you have a society were you meet up?
kind regards
Linda
April 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Hi Linda, you should check out the web site for the Irish Argentine Historical Society: http://www.irishargentine.org. They can probably answer your question.
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Anyone interested in Irish ancestral research might also be interested in Irish Roots magazine. Irish Roots magazine is completely dedicated to Irish ancestry and incorporates the entire island of Ireland. Irish Roots magazine is a valuable resource tool for anyone tracing their Irish ancestors.