Irish immigration to Mexico
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
446 Republic of Ireland-born residents (2015) Unknown number of Mexicans of Irish descent |
|
| Languages | |
| Mexican Spanish, English, Irish | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Irish diasporas |
Irish Mexicans (Spanish: Irlandés-mexicano or Hibernomexicano; Irish: Gael-Meicsiceach) are inhabitants of Mexico that are immigrants from or descendants of immigrants from Ireland. The majority of Irish immigrants to Mexico were Catholic and arrived during the time when all of Ireland was under British rule.
During the colonial era a few ethnic Irish entered Mexico. Notable among them were Governor of Yucatán and Texas Hugo Oconór and the last Viceroy of New Spain, Juan O'Donojú.
A few Mexican Irish communities existed in Mexican Texas until the Texas Revolution. Many Irish then sided with Catholic Mexico against Protestant pro-U.S. elements. The Batallón de San Patricio was a largely (ethnically) Irish battalion of U.S. troops who deserted and fought alongside the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican–American War of 1846 to 1848. In some cases, Irish immigrants or Americans left from California (the Irish Confederate army of Fort Yuma, Arizona during the American Civil War in 1861) and blended into Mexican society instead.
Álvaro Obregón (O'Brien) was president of Mexico during 1920–1924 and Ciudad Obregón and its airport are named in his honor. Actor Anthony Quinn is another famous Mexican of Irish descent. There are also monuments in Mexico City paying tribute to those Irish who fought for Mexico in the 1800s.
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Wikipedia