Tipperary man's new book explores Irish diaspora in United States and Mexico
Entertaining and humorous blend of history and travel narrative
Clonmel man Michael Lynch has written a book about his journey through modern-day south and central United States, and Mexico, as he explores the often-overlooked history of the Irish diaspora in territories that once made up the Viceroyalty of New Spain (1521–1821).
The result is ‘Searching for San Patricio’, an entertaining, lightly-written and often humorous blend of history and travel narrative.
Originally from Shamrock Hill, Clonmel, Michael is son of the late Maura and Tomás Lynch.
A talented footballer with Clonmel Commercials, he won county senior football championships in 1982 and 1986. His father Tomás also won two county senior football championships, with Ballingarry in 1951 (their only senior football title, and where he was teaching at the time) and with Clonmel Commercials in 1956.
In his mid-twenties Michael left Clonmel to travel around Australia, but stopped off in London on the way and took a while to get any further. He has since made it to Australia, although Isleworth in West London remains his base.
Always interested in Irish history, his time living away from his home country sparked an interest in the history of the Irish abroad. This led to his first book, ‘The Irish Continent’, the result of a seven-month trip to South America that uncovered the continent’s many Irish links.
His latest publication came about when he was encouraged to visit the southern Texan town of San Patricio de Hibernia (St Patrick of Ireland), established around 1830 when Texas was part of Mexico. Michael was inspired to travel widely across the “old New Spain” as he delved into Irish–American and Irish–Hispanic history.
His journey, as described in ‘Searching for San Patricio’, takes him to San Juan in Puerto Rico, where massive fortifications were designed by Irish engineers; and Florida, once home of the Hibernia Regiment of Spain.
In New Orleans, he discovers that Alexander ‘Bloody’ O’Reilly executed the leaders of a rebellion against Spanish rule. He visits the Irish colonies of south Texas, and Lincoln in New Mexico, where the Irish lined up against the outlaw and gunfighter Billy the Kid.
In the “Old West”, he learns about Nellie Cashman (the “Angel of the Cassiar”); visits Tombstone and the OK Corral in Arizona, and unravels the varied tales of Irish gunslingers and desperados, and miners and prospectors.
In Mexico, he retraces the final movements of John Riley and the Foreign Legion of San Patricio in the Mexican–American War.
The book is packed with historical events, including the American War of Independence, the Lincoln County War, the Apache Wars and the Texas Revolution. It features characters as striking as Hugo O’Conor (El Capitán Colorado, “the red captain”, who brought war to the Apache) and Ed Doheny (“The Emperor of Oil”), as well as rambles across Puerto Rico, Spanish Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico.
An informative and insightful travelogue, ‘Searching for San Patricio’ illuminates an unsung part of the Irish past. It will enchant travel enthusiasts, the Irish diaspora and anyone with an interest in Irish–American history.
It is published by Journey Books, an imprint of Bradt Guides. It can be ordered from any bookstore (ISBN: 9781804699065) and is also available online (including from Amazon, Waterstones and Hodges Figgis).