This is the time for the celebration of the Irish, and the wearing of the green. In honor of St. Paddy, here is a look at the effects the lads from the old sod have had on Mexico. Irish in Mexico? Yes, definitely.
For years, playwright Luis Valdez said, "The Irish are the Mexicans of Europe." He was referring of course to the 800-year history of political intervention, colonization and exploitation of the Irish by the British, and the hundreds of years of oppression of the Mexicans by Spain.
The Irish have been called Europe's Indians. Mexicans and the Irish are connected by their Aztec and Druid heritage to an earth-worshipping tradition, strong beliefs in spirit, life, family, and cultural gatherings.
When people are conquered for many centuries, as the Mexicans were by Spain, they develop a spiritual way of resisting. Mexicans believe in miracles, daily miracles, just as do the Irish. The Irish have in faeries; the Mexicans have hadas and duendas.
For both Mexicans and the Irish, the past is present. It's alive. Death and the afterlife are to be celebrated. Today is to be lived to the fullest.
No doubt you’ve heard of famous 20th century Mexican-Irish artist, Juan O’Gorman and Hibernomexicano actor Anthony Quinn. Nearly every Mexican town has a street named for former Mexican Revolution leader and president, Alvaro Obregón. Now there’s an interesting name – Obregón – in fact, it’s evolved from O’Brien. These great men are just a sampling of the talent leadership and expertise that has come from blending these two great cultures.
The Irish Beach Towns
Lakeside residents seeking down time with the sun and surf enjoy the quiet life and simpler lifestyle in the Pacific coastal fishing villages of Barra de Navidad, San Patricio, Villa Obregon (O’Brien) and Melaque.
Located just north of Manzanillo, these beachfront villages share a beautiful five-kilometer curving coastline, which has made them favorite Mexican vacation retreats for generations.
Barra De Navidad (The Christmas Sand Bar)
Barra de Navidad, the largest of the villages (with a population of under 10,000) was named for the sand bar on which it is located; it is said to have been discovered on Christmas Day in 1540. Local legend says that the sand bar came to light when a shipload of Irish mercenaries went aground and then decided to stay in Mexico.
There is a good selection of hotels, restaurants and shops, and the curving beach with outcroppings of rocks provides a tranquil picturesque setting. Just across the bay is Isla de Navidad, a new up-scale development on a 1200-acre private island with its own harbor and marina. The Grand Bay Resort has a Gold Medal Award 27-hole Robert Van Hagge golf course made up of a challenging lagoon nine, a mountain nine, and a beautiful ocean nine.
Melaque
Nearby Melaque appears to have been named either for a variation of a Irish man’s given name or a version of the Irish exclamation, "Marlarkey." The word Melaque doesn’t seem to be part of either Spanish or the area’s indigenous language.
If that isn’t proof enough that there was a significant early Irish population here, keep meeting the local people – you’ll see your proof there, in their faces. When the Irish mercenaries settled on Mexico's Pacific coast, they left their mark on many of the local residents.
One 12-year-old lass handed me change in a Melaque store with a toss of her curly auburn hair. That hair, the sprinkling of freckles and the greenest of green eyes combined beautifully with her warm brown Mexican skin.
The coastal bays and inlets in this region provided safe haven for 17th century pirates and explorers, including Sir Francis Drake. It is easy to imagine that some of his Irish sailors, on board voluntarily or as indentured servants may also have left the ship and settled this area.
San Patricio (St. Patrick)
It is difficult to determine when you are leaving Melaque and when you are entering San Patricio or Villa Obregon, as the three tiny villages are all connected. San Patricio is the only town in Mexico named for Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, New York…and this small fishing village.
The church in San Patricio and the town square are the center of activity for the nine days and nights of fiestas honoring St. Patrick. The fiesta which ends on March 17, features religious processions, charro events, bull wrestling, parades, nightly fireworks displays, frequent barrages of skyrockets, carnival rides and a great deal of fun and frolic.
It is a fine fiesta, indeed. One to be making any son of St. Patrick mightily proud.
Come back tomorrow – March 17, the feast day of St. Patrick, so we can offer you an Irish blessing and the story of another great Irish Mexican –ZORRO! Click here: Was Zorro from Ireland?
Then on March 18, we’ll wrap up our salute to the Irish with a piece on the Irish soldiers who fought against the US in the Mexican American War.
Who are the Irish Mexicans you know?
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