I've been using the internet for nearly ten years and it suprises me how often this modern mythof the 'Black Irish' being descended from survivors of the Spanish Armada keeps coming back again and again.

There is no credible evidence whatsoever for any significent number of survivors staying and intermarrying.

One simple point, we have historical surnames in Ireland from Scandinavia, France, Britain and Flanders etc. but none from Spain or Portugal.

But why let facts get in the way of this legend so popular with our Irish-American cousins.

We have all kind of hair colous and skin tones in Ireland from dusky Mediterranian to flaxen blond Germanic.

And by the way ony a small minority have red hair. I don't know the exact percentage but doubtless a little Googling might turn the figure up.