Irish Mexican
Encyclopedia
Irish Mexicans are inhabitants of Mexico
that are immigrants from or descendants of immigrants from Ireland
. The majority of Irish immigrants to Mexico were Catholic and arrived during the time when Ireland was under British
rule.
until the Texas Revolution
. Many Irish then sided with Catholic Mexico against Protestant pro-U.S. elements. The Batallón de San Patricio
was a largely (ethnically) Irish battalion of U.S. troops who deserted and fought alongside the Mexican Army
against the United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. In some cases, Irish immigrants or Americans left from California
(the Irish Confederate army of Fort Yuma
, Arizona
during the American Civil War
in 1861) and blended into Mexican society instead.
Álvaro Obregón
(O'Brien) was president of Mexico during 1920-24 and Ciudad Obregón
and its airport
are named in his honor. Actor Anthony Quinn
is another famous Mexican of Irish descent. There are also monuments in Mexico City paying tribute to those Irish who fought for Mexico in the 1800s.
Today, there are roughly between 300,000 and 600,000 Irish-descendants living in Mexico City
, and the Northern region of the country, where Irish last names such as Bay, Lamport, Byrne, Walsh, Foley, Hayes, and O'Leary are very common, especially in the states of Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon
, and Durango
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
that are immigrants from or descendants of immigrants from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The majority of Irish immigrants to Mexico were Catholic and arrived during the time when Ireland was under British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
rule.
History
Many Mexican Irish communities existed in Mexican TexasMexican Texas
Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...
until the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
. Many Irish then sided with Catholic Mexico against Protestant pro-U.S. elements. The Batallón de San Patricio
Saint Patrick's Battalion
The Saint Patrick's Battalion , formed and led by Jon Riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred immigrants and expatriates of European descent who fought as part of the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. Most of the battalion's members had...
was a largely (ethnically) Irish battalion of U.S. troops who deserted and fought alongside the Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
against the United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. In some cases, Irish immigrants or Americans left from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(the Irish Confederate army of Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1861) and blended into Mexican society instead.
Álvaro Obregón
Álvaro Obregón
General Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
(O'Brien) was president of Mexico during 1920-24 and Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregon is the second largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated south of the state's northern border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is also the municipal seat of Cajeme municipality, located in the Yaqui Valley.- History :...
and its airport
Ciudad Obregón International Airport
Ciudad Obregón International Airport is an international airport located in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico. It has one terminal with three gates and two jetways and two additional commercial aircraft parking spaces...
are named in his honor. Actor Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
is another famous Mexican of Irish descent. There are also monuments in Mexico City paying tribute to those Irish who fought for Mexico in the 1800s.
Today, there are roughly between 300,000 and 600,000 Irish-descendants living in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, and the Northern region of the country, where Irish last names such as Bay, Lamport, Byrne, Walsh, Foley, Hayes, and O'Leary are very common, especially in the states of Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, and Durango
Durango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
.
Notable Irish Mexicans
- Anthony QuinnAnthony QuinnAntonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
, actor - William LamportWilliam LamportWilliam Lamport was an Irish Mexican Catholic adventurer who according to at least one historian gained a nickname of El Zorro, the Fox, due to his exploits in Mexico. The attribution of the nickname, however, is disputed.-Birth and education:...
, the real-life ZorroZorroZorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media.... - Álvaro ObregónÁlvaro ObregónGeneral Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
, president of Mexico during 1920-1924. - Juan O'DonojúJuan O'DonojúJuan O'Donojú y O'Rian was a Spanish military officer and jefe político superior of New Spain from July 21, 1821 to September 28, 1821, during Mexico's war of independence...
, viceroy of New Spain - José Antonio Meade, Secretary of Finance of Mexico http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Antonio_Meade_Kuribre%C3%B1a
- Rómulo O'FarrilRómulo O'FarrilRómulo O'Farrill Jr. was a multi-millionaire Mexican businessman.His father Rómulo O'Farrill Senior founded the newspaper Novedades and owned the first commercial TV station through his company Televisión de México partnered with engineer Guillermo González Camarena and businessmen Emilio...
, founder of newspaper Novedades - Juan O'GormanJuan O'GormanJuan O'Gorman was a Mexican painter and architect.-Biography:O'Gorman was born in Coyoacán, then a village to the south of Mexico City and now a borough of the Federal District, to an Irish father, Cecil Crawford O'Gorman and a Mexican mother...
, architect - Edmundo O'GormanEdmundo O'GormanEdmundo O'Gorman O'Gorman was an Irish-Mexican writer, historian and philosopher....
, writer - Hugh O'ConnorHugo Oconór-External links:*...
, Spanish governor of Texas from 1767 to 1770 - Alejo BayAlejo BayAlejo Bay was an Irish Mexican political leader.-Political career:His father was Thomas Bay, an Irish-American from St. Louis, Missouri....
, governor of Sonora from 1923 to 1927 - Joaquín Philip Meade y Sáinz Trápaga, historian. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaqu%C3%ADn_Meade
- Michael Wadding, Jesuit priest and missionary
- Judith Grace, television hostess
- Vicente FoxVicente FoxVicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
, Mexican president (2000–06) claimed to have Irish ancestry, but was confirmed was more of German ancestry. - Lindi OrtegaLindi OrtegaLindi Ortega is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician, known for her voice that has been described as a blend of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Emmylou Harris. She spent nearly a decade as an independent artist in the Toronto music scene, self-releasing two albums and an EP in that time...
, Canadian singer of Mexican-Irish descent. - Cristina FinkCristina FinkCristina Fink Smith is a retired high jumper from Mexico, who set her personal best on May 17, 1992, jumping 1.94 meters at a meet in Mexico City. She competed for her country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, where she finished in 20th place .-Achievements:-References:* * *...
, retired high jumper of Irish, German, Dutch descent. - Margo, Mexican actress and dancer of Irish descent.
- Pablo O'HigginsPablo O'HigginsPablo Esteban O'Higgins was an American-Mexican artist, muralist and illustrator....
, American-Mexican artist, muralist and illustrator of Irish descent. - Carlos Gallardo, Mexican actor, producer and occasional screenwriter and director to a Mexican father and an Irish mother.
- Tomas O'HoranTomas O'HoranTomás Antonio O'Horán y Argüello was a Mexican lawyer, magistrate and senator, resident most of his life in Mérida, Yucatán in Mexico....
, Mexican lawyer, magistrate and senator of Irish descent. - Sara RamírezSara RamírezSara Ramírez is a Mexican-American singer/songwriter and actress. She is known for her role as Callie Torres in Grey's Anatomy and as the original Lady of the Lake in the 2005 Broadway musical Spamalot, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.-Early life:Ramírez...
, Mexican-American singer/songwriter and actress to her mother was half Mexican and half Irish-American. - Jon RileyJon RileyJon Patrick Riley , also known as John Patrick O'Riley, , a United States Army private, was one of the several hundred immigrant Catholic Irishmen who defected from the US Army and formed the Saint Patrick's Battalion to fight for Mexico in the 1846-48 Mexican-American War...
, born-Ireland, Mexican Army and founder Saint Patrick's Battalion for Mexico. - Justo Sierra O'ReillyJusto Sierra O'ReillyJusto Sierra O'Reilly , Mexican novelist and historian; father of Mexican author and political figure Justo Sierra Méndez...
, Mexican novelist and historian of Irish descent. - John Holloway, Born-Ireland Mexican lawyer, Marxist-oriented sociologist and philosopher current live in Mexico.
- Álvaro Obregón TapiaÁlvaro Obregón TapiaÁlvaro Obregón Tapia was a Mexican political figure who served as governor of the northwestern border state of Sonora from 1955 to 1961....
, Mexican political of Irish descent. - Dolores Creel MirandaDolores Creel MirandaDolores Creel Miranda is a Mexican artist who served as the National Coordinator of the Special Projects Unit of the National Council for Culture and the Arts from 2001 to 2004...
, Mexican artist of Irish descent. - Philip CrosthwaitePhilip CrosthwaitePhilip Crosthwaite was an early settler of San Diego, California and Rosarito, Baja California.-Early life:...
, born in Ireland, was an early settler of San Diego, California and Rosarito, Baja California. - Luis Humberto CrosthwaiteLuis Humberto CrosthwaiteLuis Humberto Crosthwaite is a Mexican writer, born in Tijuana in 1962. This writer and editor is currently a columnist for Milenio Diario, in Mexico City, and Enlace, the Spanish language section of the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, California.He has published Puro border: Dispatches,...
, Mexican writer of Irish-American descent.
See also
- Irish diasporaIrish diasporathumb|Night Train with Reaper by London Irish artist [[Brian Whelan]] from the book Myth of Return, 2007The Irish diaspora consists of Irish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa,...
- Irish Migration Studies in Latin AmericaIrish Migration Studies in Latin AmericaIrish Migration Studies in Latin America is an open access journal dedicated to the links between Ireland and Latin America. It is published three times a year by the Society for Irish Latin American Studies, and it is considered the only publication focusing on this field worldwide.The journal is...
- Alvarez KellyAlvarez KellyAlvarez Kelly is a 1966 war film set in the American Civil War. It starred William Holden and Richard Widmark. The film was based on the real-life Beefsteak Raid of September 1864.-Plot:...
, a Western film about a Mexican Irish in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
External links
- The Irish in Mexico: An annotated bibliography at the Irish diasporaIrish diasporathumb|Night Train with Reaper by London Irish artist [[Brian Whelan]] from the book Myth of Return, 2007The Irish diaspora consists of Irish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa,...
site. - Murray, Edmundo http://www.irlandeses.org/bibliomex.htm "The Irish in Latin America and Iberia: A Bibliography - Mexico and Hispanic North America"
- Murray, Edmundo http://www.irlandeses.org/sanpatriciosbiblio.htm "The San Patricio Battalion: A Bibliography"
- History of Mexico: The Irish Presence at the Houston Institute for Culture.
- The legend of ZorroZorroZorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media....
was an Irishman (William LamportWilliam LamportWilliam Lamport was an Irish Mexican Catholic adventurer who according to at least one historian gained a nickname of El Zorro, the Fox, due to his exploits in Mexico. The attribution of the nickname, however, is disputed.-Birth and education:...
). - The O'Brien clan in Mexico.
- Primary and secondary sources relating to the Irish in Mexico (Sources database for Irish research)