Who are the Black Irish?
Are the Black Irish really a cultural or ethnic group?
© Darlene Vaillancourt
Nov 4, 2006
People differ in their opinions on who the Black Irish are. If you have been told that you have Black Irish in your ancestry, it might not mean what you think it does.
Well, there have been a few discussion on this subject on this site, and my curiosity has been piqued. There does seem to be some controversy on the origins and meaning of this expression.
It seems that the fundamental meaning of "Black Irish" is simply anyone with Irish ancestry who has dark hair and eyes, as opposed to the more typical and paler complexion we associate with people from Ireland. But there are many differing opinions on the specifics of this "ethic group", if it even really exists as a common group at all.
Ironically, the term "Black Irish" isn't used in Ireland particularly. It's mostly seen in North America.
One tale is that the Black Irish are descendents of an armada of Spanish sailors who were shipwrecked in Ireland, in 1588. It's highly unlikely that this event would have the lasting ethnic impact that people seem to believe. Most of the Spanish sailors were killed in the shipwrecks, and many of those who survived were put to death as invaders. Afterwards, it was reported to the crown that only 100 survivors remained on Irish soil. Hardly enough to have any genetic impact on the population.
Another possible source for a Black Irish ethnic group, is the island of Montserrat. Many Irish were brought to the Caribbean island as servants, and their cultural impact is still seen there today.
Though some people insist that the Black Irish is a unique and particularly ethnic group, there are too many interpretations to really nail it down. Generally, the term applies to any dark-haired people of Irish descent, whether they are a mix of Irish/Spanish, Irish/Italian, Irish/Native American or any other racial blending.
There is a mailing list from Rootsweb that focuses specifically on this group of people, and their various backgrounds.
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Comments
Feb 13, 2007 2:14 PM
Gent Rama
:
We often described Irish origin as Spanish or indo-European people.
The truth is that Pellazgus were the only people to emigrate to the north and form many clusters of their trunk.
After being defeated in Troy, pelazgus who were originally living in territories of today's Greece, Italy, Germany, Spain and France were famous for their art of the war.
It is proven that decent Greek came from Armenia and did find work as secretaries among pelazgus. Armenians which are known as "gypsies of Europe" were a people that made their living by travelling and caring on their written language. They had developed their alphabet which did used to write all famous ancient books. This clarifies the fact that the old Greek does not have anything to do with the new Greek language. Also the old Greek language is only the pellazgus written with Greek letters.
The only language which carries on the true pelazgus language is Albanian. Albanians are the true pelazgus.
In ancient times, after their defeate, the pelazgus Alban clan left their place headed to the north and the became settlers in Russia (where around 300 villages carry on the pelazgus language - similar with today's Albanian). The biggest group led by king Alban captured the sea and found a free land in today's Ireland and Scotland. Their instrument was the bagpipe (the only place in the world used is Albania) and their traditional clothes was the skirt (fustanella) used only in today's Albania. Pelazgus had their popular drink named Raki a similar drink to Wiski but made by distilling grapes. No matter what others claim, the origin of Irish and Scottish people is pelazgus or today's Albanians.
Feb 26, 2007 7:54 PM
Robert Hayes
:
hi, you may find this hard to belive but we have the proff. At least one person left spain in the 11th century was in Ireland/Scotland with a new name. I am related to this person my Grandfather was the last. The strange part is he is the only son of a only son for over 11 generations and the trail is proveable. How it got so blown out of perportion I do know. But you will have to read the book. We are the Black Irish. And I hope to laugh with you all the way to the bank.
Sep 14, 2007 4:52 AM
Eddie O´Brien
:
I would like to know where oldirish got his information. I am a true blackIrish, born and bred in Ireland. My genealogy is Irish as far back as I can go. I´ve always been told that the true celts were always of dark skin, hair and eyes and that we came from north Africa, true spain to Ireland. The sterotype of red hair and freckles is a nordic trait that was introduced by the Vikings. True BlackIrish are mainly found on the southwest, south and southeast coastal areas of Ireland and NOT the north or northwest, as is commenly belived. The southern coastal regions hold the strongest genealogy BlackIrish due to the geography of the region. Small coves and harbours where the first celts arrived were taken over by the celts, as they traveled futher north the true genealogy was weakend and again futher still by the Vikings. As to my claim to being BlackIrish, I have skin that is darker then some of my coloured friends, I have cousins with afro hiar, and my Uncle was born with Sickle Cell Anemia, most commenly found in thoes with an African origan. As for BlackIrish in America, I believe that the Irish Slaves in the carribean and the interbreeding of Irish and Native American have simlpy muddied the waters with any sallow skined person claiming Irish Heritage calling themselves BlackIrish. This is not so!A true BlackIrish is Irish by birth and with no interbreeding with other ethnic groups! Any comments on this will be greatfully appreciated!
Nov 16, 2007 8:51 AM
Megan
:
Hi Eddie - its a bit late now in the year for a reply -but your responce, amongst many others i read on this topic intrigued me! Since the death of my father in 2004 I have been investigating his ancestory. His fathers linage is fairly readilly available and links for generatons back to Gloucester & Wales etc. They are all fairly standard, fairish -English/Welsh peoples etc. My father though had brown eyes, dark thick wavey hair (like mine, though I am medium brown) and maintained a deep tan even through winter -my ex for exmple thought he was Aboriginal when he first met him, & that was in September, just before Spring in Queensland, one of Australias hottest states! So I investigated his mothers family and for generations on both sides they appeared to have lived around Limerick etc., I have a pic of his mother with long dark hair draped over her shoulder, she also had dark eyes. As Irish go this side was staunchly Catholic esp, my fathers grandmother. When I visited Ireland in 2006 I noted that Limerick and the Shannon, of course, had a port etc., No one in my family have ever been remotely interested in my fathers obvious 'latin' looks but now I am intrigued by all these Black Irish myths. My father did on occasion explain such away by talking about the Spanish Amada, & I have to say that the form of Catholicism influenced upon him was almost archaic, apocalyptic & with visions of hell & damnation reminiscent of the Spanish Inquisition! Further, his father was fairly estrainged from his Protestant origins & family on the insistence of my fathers grandmother once they married etc.,
My older brother, who like my father is only around 165cm and one sister has tight -though blond- wirey curly hair, I swear, she looks almost like an albino African, except she has a ski jump nose! They have baby blue eyes -My other brother & myself though have dark thick wavey hair & green eyes -another brother is the only one with brown eyes that are a bit hazel.
I also realise that my surname Baker is often associated also with Gypsys in England, but that side is fairly straight forward English. If I can I have posted a photo of my father in his navy outfit looking like a Flamenco dancer next to his paternal cousin, who has more rounded v English, hips & legs!
Any ideas -do u suspect old Basque most likely or might the Amada influence be possible?
Here if it works, is a pic of my father on the right.
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