Irish Refugees in Spain

 O' Hingurdils- Irish Refugees in Spain

When we last left the story of the OHingurdils in Spain, we knew that Dionisio was fighting in the Galician army, but we didn't know what happened to the others in his clan.

Further research has placed the arrival of O'Sullivan Beare and his supporters in La Caruna into a bit more context and might offer an explanation of their fate.

Between 1602 and 1608 it is estimated that at least 10,000 people from Ireland fled to the north west of Spain (Galicia). They gathered in the harbour city of La Caruna where the Governor of Galicia, who supported their cause, resided. 

Irish refugees were flooding in at such a rate that a new position was created 'Protector of the Irish' to try to bring some sort of order to the situation. Between 1604 - 1606 (when payments ceased) payments were made by the Spanish Court to at least 5,000 of these Irish refugees.

The boats kept arriving, the authorities and the city were being over run with so many needy refugees to feed, clothe and house. The situation was made worse by the fact that about 50% of the refugees were old people, women and children (many of them orphans). 

The Spanish Royal Court discussed many options to cope with the problem including turning back the boats, paying the refugees to go back home and forcibly expelling the refugees. All these options raised moral dilemmas for the Court.

In January 1606 a solution was decided upon. The Governor of Galicia was given more funds to assist in the short term, but the longer term solution was as follows:

* Able bodied soldiers were to be recruited into a newly formed Irish Regiment in Flanders, or Irish infantry in the Spanish navy, or serve in the La Caruna city garrison.

* Nobles who had been granted pensions could remain in the city, becoming businessmen, traders and the like.

* Some able bodied, non combatants were given land to farm in northern Galicia.

* The old, women, children- those who had no one to care for them- were spread across the province to be cared for in parishes.

Gradually, over a few generations, the Irish refugees were absorbed into Galician society.

We know that Dionisio joined the army. Maybe that was the destiny for the two other OHingurdil males listed in the correspondence between La Caruna and the Royal Court. Others would have been absorbed into the military, or sent out to parishes. 

Their exact fate will be forever unknown to us.

For more information read The Irish Boat people through Spanish Eyes by Ciaran O'Scea

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