In our family black Irish was always understood to mean those descended from the Spaniards and the Normans, with black or dark hair. I have light skin and blue eyes, and I used to have dark hair as well, but oddly enough, the older I get the redder it gets! ;o) Go figure!!

My maiden name was Browne... and as far as I know my dad's people come from Sligo and my mom's from Mayo. We believe the Brownes were originally De Bruns who came to Ireland during the Norman invasion.

Unfortunately I'm not related to any Brownes who ever made any money - like Jackson or Sylvia!

Annie