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.
History
A few Mexican Irish communities existed in Mexican Texas prior to the Texas Revolution. They were fully integrated into Mexican society at the time and were linked to their host society through inter-marriage, a shared language, and business ties.[2] When revolution broke out, many Irish sided with Catholic Mexico against Protestant pro-U.S. elements.[3] 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.[4] Veterans of the battalion were awarded with the Cross of Honor for their service to the Mexican government.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
Notable Irish Mexicans
Louis CK, Mexican born comedian and actor, mother was Irish American, father was Mexican/Hungarian. CK (Szekely) was partially raised in Mexico City[8]
Margo, Mexican actress and dancer of Irish descent
Coogan, Tim Pat (2002). Wherever Green is Worn. Arrow Books. ISBN 0-09-995850-3.
^"Población inmigrante residente en México según país de nacimiento, 2015" [Immigrant population residing in Mexico by country of birth, 2015] (in Spanish). Consejo Nacional de Población. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
^Murray, Edmundo (2008). "Secret Diasporas: The Irish in Latin America and the Caribbean". History Ireland. 16–17: 16 – via JSTOR.
^Marshall, Tom (2010-06-17). "World Cup 2010: France are the common enemy for Mexico and Ireland". The Guardian. London.
^Coogan page 609
^ a bHogan, Michael (1997). "The Irish Soldiers of Mexico". History Ireland. 5: 38–39 – via JSTOR.
^"Celebrating the Irish Connection | The-Tidings.com". Archived from the original on 2009-10-08. Retrieved 2010-06-20.