Well almost everyone in the world has African ancestry..that is the starting point for most of us..I did my mother's mother's etc. line..thought it was the Cornish or Native American but turns out it was the Dutch..anyway, they originate in Africa...

Anyway, I am interested in the Black Irish. My father always said his family was...I swear some of his aunts look like Spanish princesses...and he had the Black Irish look...it has traditionally in US at least referred to black hair, usually curly...almost any Irish American I ever saw growing up had that look...square face, black hair...never new of any redheads etc. Of course we weren't a great Irish center...Conan O'Brien did a great piece on how Irishmen hoped to grow square faces, like Ted Kennedy..Sean Hannity has the look I would call Black Irish. Things I have read indicate it might be a very old strain of Irish..the Dingle Peninsula being a stronghold of Spanish influence etc...who knows. They exist. It is hardly an insult..it is a matter of great pride...

You know..I always thought growing up, and only being half Irish ... that it was something you knew was very important but should also be humble about..and be especially humble if you were Black Irish and of course descended from kings etc...as every one was of course. But you shouldn't brag about it because not everyone had these social advantages etc...of course not everyone else saw it that way...mg