The plastic paddies we nearly had

Yeah the BBC did a programme about that Welsh speaking community in Argentina. Fascinating stuff.

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Originally Posted by RiffRaff

Argentina have also had a few players with Irish names over the years. One of the goalscorers in the 86 world cup final was of irish descent. I also remember watching an Argentina match on eurosport a few years ago and they had a player called McAllister playing who was apparantly also of Irish descent. Maybe that shouldnt be such a surprise as there was a huge number of Irish people who emigrated to south american countries and there are still some areas in Argentina where Irish is the spoken language.

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Jose Luis Brown I think.

Also a few more Americans - recently capped Michael Parkhurst's father is from Cavan. Greg Berhalter's mother is from Galway. Not sure about Brian McBride.

wha about Landon Donovan? and a guy who played in italy a few years back called Fabien O'Neill (i think he was from Uruguay, but is not on the wikpedia list above.)

I remember this "chappie" who wanted to declare for us. It went on for a couple of weeks and then no granny could be found. "Sure I drink Guinness". etc etc. And yes he actually said that. Introducing one Mick Quinn.
http://www.sportcartoons.co.uk/mickquinn.html

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Originally Posted by holidaysong

Not true. There is a Welsh speaking community in Argentina, not an Irish speaking one.

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There are some Irish speaking areas in Argentina. I've read a few articles about it though i cant give a reference to them. I have also been told that by a few Argentinian people.

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Originally Posted by RiffRaff

There are some Irish speaking areas in Argentina. I've read a few articles about it though i cant give a reference to them. I have also been told that by a few Argentinian people.

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I read an article recently about how hurling was popular in some parts of Argentina but it more or less did out in the 1940's. Have to dig that one out...

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Originally Posted by RiffRaff

There are some Irish speaking areas in Argentina. .

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i cant find anything about this in google and never heard it before, surely we would have been told that in school and it would be the subject of numerous RTE and TnaG documantaries and visits from hector

Hate that phrase "plastic paddy":mad:. Usually used by those who don't have blood relatives born abroad. I have two brothers with children born in the UK and Germany. I wouldn't describe them as "plastic paddies" if they were ever good enough to play for Ireland. Countless generations before them came from Ireland.

Thank heavens for the wild geese, that's what I say.

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I read an article recently about how hurling was popular in some parts of Argentina but it more or less did out in the 1940's. Have to dig that one out...

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sunday independent, an article about the buenos aires hurling club, that is still a social club for irish descendants. They like tipperary cos they have the same colours as Boca Juniors :D

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Originally Posted by RiffRaff

There are some Irish speaking areas in Argentina. I've read a few articles about it though i cant give a reference to them. I have also been told that by a few Argentinian people.

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The main Irish newspaper of Argentina is the Southern Cross and is nearly all in Spanish now though originally in English (odd bits are still in English and Irish with basic Irish lessons for beginners). It is truly surreal to see such a publication, mostly bought by people whose family have been in the country for three or more generations.

http://www.thesoutherncross.com.ar/

go to foxford if you want to learn more!

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Originally Posted by RogerMilla

i cant find anything about this in google and never heard it before, surely we would have been told that in school and it would be the subject of numerous RTE and TnaG documantaries and visits from hector

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You have a lot a faith in the schooling system:)

I remember listening to a radio docu about some of the Irish Argentinian descendants and they were speaking with thick north munster accents, wierd stuff indeed.

Don't they speak with Irish accents in parts of Newfoundland?

Isn't there parts of Jamaica where all the names are Murphy/O'Brien/McCarthy/etc ?
I remember a friend of mine telling me about it before

well in Monserrat they celebrate St Patrick day infact it is a public holiday.

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Originally Posted by RogerMilla

i cant find anything about this in google and never heard it before, surely we would have been told that in school and it would be the subject of numerous RTE and TnaG documantaries and visits from hector

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dont know about an Irish speaking area, but there is a lot of history between ireland and argentina
many irish emmigreated out there or were left stranded
westmeath has an argentina society to reflect many people from the midlands who ended up there (the lucky ones i guess)
and i could mention Boca juniors and the irish connections but then Dodge would be at me again and i would rather leave it!;)

I know a few Argies, they are good craic, we share our distaste for the english! Only problem is they think their rugby team is somehow better or at least on the same level... i guess we'll see...

Noel Whelan

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Originally Posted by RogerMilla

i cant find anything about this in google and never heard it before, surely we would have been told that in school...

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I doubt the Irish scools history curriculum has emigration as a topic, if my travels supporting Ireland for nearly 26 years is anything to go by. :rolleyes:

I remember (from school) that the major figure in the foundation of the Argentinian Navy was Irish - I googled it and it's Lt. William Brown. He was the boss man there in their independence fight with Spain.