Spanish Influence in West Ireland

Subject: RE: Spanish Influence in West Ireland
From: GUEST,ANON
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 05:50 PM

Oh no, Armada, gypsies and biblical mythic tribes all rolled into one. Does no one ever think that there were lots of people living there,say, five thousand years ago? Building tombs and standing stones etc/ And where would these people have come from? The western seaboard,starting in SPAIN. being so remote in the west, the phenotype is preserved best there but DNA shows Ireland and indedd all of Britain can trace its roots to ancient Iberia!

Subject: RE: Spanish Influence in West Ireland
From: OG1
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 11:13 AM

I agree with your conclusion. People just have a hard time accepting the obvious. They have been raised to be Nationalistic and to believe that the Garden of Eden originated in their backyard.

Subject: RE: Spanish Influence in West Ireland
From: GUEST,Johnny Spanish
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 07:12 PM

I certainly learned alot from reading all the comments and then going back and doing some research

The whole thing about the shipwrecked Spanish sailors I didnt even know about until recently, but it seems to be nothing more than just an old wive's tale

And I completely failed to realize how much the Vikings influenced ancient Ireland, I must read more into this.

I guess the final conclusion is that the same pre-celtic peoples that lived in Spain also lived throughout the British isles and as far as western Europe. If any significant Spanish migration to Ireland ever occurred, it probably happened near the last Ice Age and by then ships weren't even needed, people probably walked ^^

Of course, the whole issue of whether or not they were Spanish means nothing as it was before national origins and other arbitrary distinctions

would, um, most people...agree???

Subject: RE: Spanish Influence in West Ireland
From: GUEST,The Black O' Sullivans
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 06:36 PM

Folks,
My family here on Beare island, have always been known as the
[blacks] just because we are mostly black-haired or dark red with swarthy complexions, to distinguish us from other families in the area with the same surname; of which there are many.
My daughter-in-law is from Galicia in northern Spain.I've holidayed there on numerous occasions and most of the people in the that area, especially around the big alumina plant look like me and mine.
It has nothing to do with the Spanish Armada and all to do with the healthy trade that built up along the western sea-board between us and northern Spain
Relations between England and Spain were rarely cordial so a dog-leg across Biscay and up the west coast of Ireland was normal. My great grandfather and grand-father both done the Camino de Santiago.

Subject: RE: Spanish Influence in West Ireland
From: GUEST,Guest - Ibero-Celt
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 01:59 AM

Lewis Topographical Directory of County Kerry --- " In the western part of County Kerry the houses were built after the Spanish fashion, with stone balconies in front; as there was a great communication with the Spaniards and Portuguese, who visited the coast annually in considerable numbers to fish for cod, which circumstance also accounts for the names given to some of the towns. The mountainous parts are chiefly inhabited by herdsmen, who feed and clothe themselves from their own lands, consuming but little of the produce of other places: their habitations are low smoky huts covered with coarse thatch. In some parts the women have a becoming dress, consisting of a jacket of cloth, with loose sleeves, made to fit close round the neck and bosom, and fastened in front with a row of buttons; this is considered to be a relic of the Spanish costume.
They marry at a very early age. The peasants are generally well- proportioned, with swarthy complexions, dark eyes and long black hair, exhibiting, in the opinion of some, strong traces of their Spanish origin. They are a frank, honest race, of very independent spirit, acute in understanding, and friendly and hospitable to strangers."
I have seen other references to fine stone buildings in some of the southwestern ports that housed Spanish merchants, and local sailors that spoke fluent Spanish and regularly sailed to Spain for trade, and there were many Irish mercenaries in the Spanish armies. In 1600 a Spanish force of 2,000 men landed in Cork, intent on starting an uprising against Elizabeth's English administration, and they remained under siege for several months in a local castle. There had been regular trade between Spain and Ireland over 400 to 500 years.

Subject: RE: Spanish Influence in West Ireland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 11:27 AM

Most of Europe traded with most of Europe fpr a very long time didn't?

L in C#

Subject: RE: Spanish Influence in West Ireland
From: GUEST,daniel.carlos1
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 05:54 PM

I love your site and have been trying to trace my family history for years, My fathers family came from strokestown co roscommon and I am going over to see my aunt celebrate her 100th birthday in 2 weeks time,I am nearly 60 and for years was told the romantic version of the spanish armada,About 15 years ago I noticed more carlos headstones in strokestown cemetery and was informed they were not related to our side of the family.I have read quite a few books on the armada and many of the ships did have irish and spanish pilots which suggests trading had been going on for many years, By the way all my family were dark haired and dark skined.If you google clann carlos you will find a very interesting site, thanks