Irish people in Jamaica
Encyclopedia
Irish people in Jamaica is a Jamaican person who is of Irish
descent. The legacy of the Irish is still seen in the places names, such as Dublin Castle, Irish pen. Irish town, Sligoville
, Kildare
, Leinster Road and Belfast
. Their connection in Jamaica goes beyond the names of places. Similarities can be found in a shared history of colonial domination and the achievement of independence in the same century.
's capture of Jamaica. When English Admirals Penn and Venables failed in their expedition to take Santo Domingo
from the Spanish
, they turned their attention to Jamaica, not wanting to return to Cromwell empty-handed. With reinforcements from English held Barbados
(many of whom were Irish) they made quick work of dispatching the weak Spanish defence and soon realized that they needed workers to support their new prize. They looked eastward to islands already under English control, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Montserrat
, and imported young, mainly male, bonded servants, many of whom were Irish.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
descent. The legacy of the Irish is still seen in the places names, such as Dublin Castle, Irish pen. Irish town, Sligoville
Sligoville
Sligoville is a small community approximately 10 miles from Spanish Town in the parish of St. Catherine on the island of Jamaica.Sligoville is named after the Marquess of Sligo, Governor of Jamaica in 1834, the year that freedom came to the enslaved people of Jamaica. Sligoville was said to be the...
, Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, Leinster Road and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. Their connection in Jamaica goes beyond the names of places. Similarities can be found in a shared history of colonial domination and the achievement of independence in the same century.
Irish immigration to Jamaica
The Irish arrived in Jamaica over 350 years ago in the mid-1600s at the time of English Lord Protector Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's capture of Jamaica. When English Admirals Penn and Venables failed in their expedition to take Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
from the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, they turned their attention to Jamaica, not wanting to return to Cromwell empty-handed. With reinforcements from English held Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
(many of whom were Irish) they made quick work of dispatching the weak Spanish defence and soon realized that they needed workers to support their new prize. They looked eastward to islands already under English control, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
, and imported young, mainly male, bonded servants, many of whom were Irish.
Notable Jamaicans of Irish descent
- Alexander BustamanteAlexander BustamanteSir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante GBE, National Hero of Jamaica was a Jamaican politician and labour leader....
- Claude McKayClaude McKayClaude McKay was a Jamaican-American writer and poet. He was a seminal figure in the Harlem Renaissance and wrote three novels: Home to Harlem , a best-seller which won the Harmon Gold Award for Literature, Banjo , and Banana Bottom...
- Tom McDermot
- Tony Mullings
- Kez O'Mac
- The Earl of InchiquinWilliam O'Brien, 2nd Earl of InchiquinWilliam McMurrough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Inchiquin was an Irish nobleman.-Life:William O'Brien was the son of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin and Elisabeth St. Leger...
- Chris BlackwellChris BlackwellChristopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
- John Edgar Colwell HearneJohn Edgar Colwell HearneJohn Edgar Colwell Hearne was a white Jamaican novelist, journalist, and teacher.Hearne's first published work was the novel Voices under the Window, issued in 1955...
- Lady Colin CampbellLady Colin CampbellLady Colin Campbell, , is a British writer, biographer, autobiographer, novelist, television and radio personality, known for her biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, The Real Diana, as well as other books on the Royal Family and the international elite.Campbell was born in Jamaica, the child of...
- Author, socialite, radio hostess