Searching for San Patricio

Exploring the little-known history of the Irish in the south and central United States, and Mexico.

About Searching for San Patricio

Searching for San Patricio relates Michael Lynch’s 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). From the same author as Bradt’s The Irish Continent, which related the history of the Irish in South America, the result is an entertaining, lightly written and often humorous blend of history and travel narrative.

Encouraged to visit the southern Texan town of San Patricio de Hibernia (St Patrick of Ireland), established in around 1830 when Texas was part of Mexico, Irish expat Michael Lynch was inspired to range widely across the ‘old New Spain’ as he delves into Irish–American and Irish–Hispanic history.

• His journey 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, Lynch 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 Billy the Kid.
• In the ‘Old West’, he learns about Nellie Cashman (the ‘Angel of the Cassiar’) visited Tombstone and the OK Corral, and unravels the varied tales of Irish gunslingers and desperados and miners and prospectors.
• In Mexico, Lynch retraces the final movements of John Riley and the Foreign Legion of San Patricio in the Mexican–American War.

Packed with historical events – including the American War of Independence, Lincoln County War, the Apache Wars and the Texas Revolution – and featuring 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’), Searching for San Patricio 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.

Before ordering ebooks from us, please check out our ebook information.

About the author

Michael Lynch was born and brought up in County Tipperary, Ireland. In his mid-twenties, he left 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 London remains his base). Always interested in Irish history, his time living away from his home country resulted in an interest in the history of the Irish abroad. This led to his first book for Bradt, The Irish Continent, which resulted from a seven-month trip to South America that uncovered the continent’s many Irish links. His latest book, Searching for San Patricio, picks up on the theme of the history of the Irish diaspora. A journey through the south and central United States and Mexico reveals the often-overlooked history of the Irish in the territories that once made up the Viceroyalty of New Spain.