I was reading an Irish Newspaper during the past week and noted a small article about our green planet on St Pats day about the Irish in Argentina . I was aware of an Irish presence in the country besides a Welsh presence in Patagonia I did not appreciate that Argentina is the home of a 500000 Irish Diaspora which is impressive in a non English speaking country. The paper reported up to 20000 revellers took to the streets of Buenos Aires on St Pats day. Two very famous people the rebel fighter Che Guevara whose family is in reality Lynch and W Brown from Foxford Co Mayo who founded the Argentine Navy and to this day in Argentine is a hero for winning an important naval war against Brazil and expelling the Spanish from the region of Buenos Aires are both very much associated with this community. This prompted me to do a little investigation and I have learned the following which maybe of interest to fellow listers.The Irish have had a presence in the European colonies of South America through the Irish Colleges in Catholic Europe from the 16th Century. The first Irish to arrive in Argentina was around the period 1520 on Voyages of exploration with the Spanish. Amongst the founders of Buenos Aires were Irish family names of Coleman Galvan Farrell and Lucas. In the 17th Century followed the O Gormans and O Briens who are believed to have responsible the Argentina beef industry of today. They recruited hundred of butchers and tanners as skilled labour from Ireland. Merchants of note from the 18th Century are listed as the Lynches Ryan's Butlers Dogan and Cullen. The British Navy invaded the River Plate area with soldiers during this period with soldiers mainly from Mullingar and Athlone. The majority deserted to the Argentine side and went to work on the vast estates which had a big impact on the growth of the Argentine beef Industry. From around the 1820 period onwards about 40000 people emigrated to Argentina many of them from Westmeath and formed what is now an unique Irish community who speak English with an Irish accent. Incidentally the Irish International Rugby team play Argentina quite regularly and some Argentina players play with Irish clubs on the top European League. Ciaran Colgan