I have just read most of the contributions in this link and would like to add a little twist...

My Grandmother often spoke off of her fathers people coming over from Ireland, and has used the term "Black Irish" in reference to our prominent features. The name was O'Dempsey, later changed to just Dempsey. They apperently settled in Arkansas. We also have some native American (Cherokee) blood. In my research to sort out my geneologic history, I have also ran across the fact that back when they were forcing a lot of Cherokee to leave there land in the east, several of the mixed families claimed they were Black Irish, so that they could keep their land.

Has anyone else heard of this type of event?

jeffdavid.com