The Irish Diaspora: Tales of Emigration, Exile and Imperialism

by Turtle Bunbury

The compelling story of the great Irish pioneers who left their homeland and in the process profoundly influenced their adoptive countries. From the first voyages of Saint Brendan in the early sixth century, an estimated 10 million people have left the Irish shores for other countries, and today, more than 80 million people worldwide claim Irish descent. In the centuries after the fall of Rome, Irish missionaries carried the word of the Christian God throughout Europe, while soldiers and mariners from across the land ventured overseas in all directions. The advent of the British Empire ignited a slow but extraordinary exodus from Ireland. These "Wild Geese" who opted to live outside of the Protestant state took their chances in the Spanish and French empires, as well as in the fledgling New World. These immigrants played an important role wherever they rising to high political and military positions in France and Spain, impacting the foundation of the United States, and fighting in the Civil War that followed it nearly eighty years later. Other Irish would come to the fore in business, science, engineering, and the arts, while some were destined for infamy as mobsters and gunslingers. Historian Turtle Bunbury explores the lives of these men and women, great and otherwise, whose pioneering journeys beyond the Irish shore have played a profound role in world history and have left their indelible mark far beyond Ireland. Throughout The Irish Diaspora , Bunbury takes these overlooked events and characters and weaves them into an entertaining, and often surprising, history of the Irish abroad. 30 illustrations

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Immigration, Irish Literature, Ireland

304 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2021

Reviews

[vagabond20 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book strikes a marvelous balance between being educational and entertaining. There are 42 chapters and they each examine the life and achievements of members of the Irish Diaspora all over the world. Some were very colorful - my personal favorite is Hercules Mulligan with Nellie Cashman, Angel of the Wild West a close runner-up. Turtle's Reflections on Irish Identity (chapter 42) particularly resonate with me as a present-day member of the diaspora. I heard an Irish diplomat observe that this book should be required reading for every one of his colleagues.

I highly recommend it. I enjoyed every page and I know a good deal more about the diaspora of which I am a part than before I read it.

[Johnmlkelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and entertaining book, highly recommended

[Grace Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this work! I expected a highlight real of only the most famous and highly regarded Irish emigrates, but the author was surprisingly honest about the role different people had in worldwide atrocities. It was a very informative read overall and had a great mix of the fun and interesting history we love to read about and the ugly things we need to learn from. I most liked learning about Little Al Cashier—an Irish-born trans man who enlisted in americas civil war as a means to start a new life as a man.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This is a pretty rote but interesting collection of mini bios about Irish-born or -descended people throughout history, and how they made their mark on the world. People from all walks are highlighted, but there seems to be a particular focus on the Irish influence on presidential federal republics in the New World from the 1600-1800s, and particularly between the US and Ireland’s relationship.

Let’s be honest, Ireland is probably the greatest country on earth, so reading about such an interesting cast that emerged from our favorite tiny island is an automatic win. 💯

[Pirate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guinness the highest quality export of Ireland?......Nonsense it is the people ......they are the oysters with pearls to go with the black stuff.....which is so clearly and brilliantly portrayed in this tome by the author. Around 40 selected of different sexes, qualities, hues and penchants...Eliza Lynch, First Lady of Paraguay....apprising that prior to a catastrophic war launched by her lover Francisco Solano Lopez -- on account of his pride being hurt in being disdainfully snubbed over a marriage proposal to the Emperor of Brazil's daughter -- Paraguay was a fantastically wealthy South American power. Ms Lynch a County Cork girl was a stronger and brighter character than her lover though she was never to regain her property in Paraguay...an astonishing 90,000 square kilometres...larger than Ireland itself. And so so and so forth...could wax lyriucal and send you to sleep with the amount of interesting personalities and deeds of derring do -- Patrick Gallagher (Ballyhaunis, County Mayo) one of many Irish to fight in Vietnam, Frederick Young (Inishowen Peninsula, Donegal) patron of the fierce fighting men The Gurkhas and the mighty Hugh Gough (Annacotty, Limerick) the Conqueror of the Punjab who along with fellow Irishman Wellington (Merrion Hotel, Dublin...) commanded more battles in the 19th century than any other British Army general -- to darker characters --the hunter and appalling absentee landlord Sir George Gore (Sandymount, Dublin) little wonder the better side of the family such as Countess Constance Markievicz rebelled against his way of life ...as the author comments wryly..'Every family has its black sheep. If the Gore family had one, Sir George would probably have shot it.' There are two characters remarkable in their own right who are not quite what they seem on the outside.......personalities brought to life who might in some cases inhabit a line or two in the bigger history of the time they lived..some not at all but deservedly given an airing here. The author might originally have been destined to be named Tertius but for this work alone he deserves primo inter pares.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a long series of short biographies of Irish immigrants from medival times to the present day. While some are quite interesting, others require some knowledge of Irish history to appreciate. The book would have been greatly improved had more of these individual been placed broader historical context rather than be short stories of just themselves.

[Lacy Fewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful read learning about the power of the Irish influence through the generations. I particularly enjoyed reading about Margaret of New Orleans, Margetta Eagar, the last Tsars governess. This is a book for reference and to return to when telling the stories of our past. Highly recommend.

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an interesting premise, but is a little like reading an encyclopedia.