Irish in The Service of Spain
During the 16th Century the Irish, who were mostly Catholic, were suffering many injustices from the English authorities who were Protestant. William Stanley, an English Catholic, was given a commission by Queen Elizabeth I to organize an Irish regiment of native Irish soldiers and mercenaries. The main idea was to get rid of these men because the English authorities wanted them out of the country. They were sent to fight on behalf of England in support of the Dutch United Provinces. However, in 1585, motivated by religious factors and bribes offered by the Spaniards, Stanley defected to the Spanish side with the regiment. The Irishmen who fled the English Army to join the armies of other foreign nations became known as "Wild Geese."
Among those considered "Wild Geese" was Alejandro O'Reilly, an Inspector-General of Infantry for the Spanish Empire who as a military reformer became known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Militia" and Colonel Tomas O'Daly.
Read more about this topic: Irish Immigration To Puerto Rico
Famous quotes containing the words irish, service and/or spain:
“I went to a very militantly Republican grammar school and, under its influence, began to revolt against the Establishment, on the simple rule of thumb, highly satisfying to a ten-year-old, that Irish equals good, English equals bad.”
—Bernadette Devlin (b. 1947)
“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809)
“last time I saw you was the hospital
pale skull protruding under ashen skin
blue veined unconscious girl
in an oxygen tent
the war in Spain has ended long ago
Aunt Rose”
—Allen Ginsberg (b. 1926)