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’), 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.

Searching for San Patricio: A ramble in old New Spain

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