Wild About Ireland Tours

23/05/2025

Connemara Landscapes www.wildaboutireland.ie

19/05/2025

Exploring the Wild Atlantic Way today, Gaelic Irish Tower Houses, Sheep Farms, Mountains, Lakes, Bogs, Islands, and a Wonderful Blue Sky. www.wildaboutireland.ie
Going the extra mile! #

12/05/2025

The Burren in Bloom. Walking the Burren National Park with Wild About Ireland Tours. # www.wildaboutireland.ie

11/05/2025

The Hill of Uisneach Bealtaine Celebrations #

08/05/2025

https://wildaboutireland.ie/che-guevara-and-his-irish-roots/

Che Guevara and His Irish Roots: The Revolutionary with Galway Blood
When people think of Che Guevara, they often picture the defiant revolutionary who helped ignite the Cuban Revolution. But few realize that behind the iconic beret and the fiery ideals beat the heart of an Irish rebel—quite literally.

Che Guevara’s Irish ancestry traces back to Patrick Lynch, a Galway native born in 1715. Lynch emigrated to Buenos Aires in 1749 via Bilbao, Spain, after the confiscation of lands during Ireland’s turbulent colonial era. Once in Argentina, Lynch became part of a prosperous Irish immigrant community. The Lynch family played a pivotal role in founding Hurlingham, a town near Buenos Aires that still bears traces of Irish influence today.

Alongside other Galway families, the Lynches became successful ranchers and merchants. In the 1850s, they showed solidarity with their homeland by raising significant funds for famine relief in Galway. They even helped sponsor Father Fahy, a priest from Loughrea, to assist over 200 Irish farmers in making the transatlantic journey to Argentina. Fittingly, Hurlingham’s school and church are named after Galway’s patron saint, St. Brendan.

Che Guevara’s Irish Identity
Ernesto “Che” Guevara was fully aware of his Irish lineage. During a stopover in Ireland after visiting Russia, he visited Kilkee, County Clare, where fate brought him face-to-face with a young hotel worker named Jim Fitzpatrick—the very artist who would go on to create the world-famous red and black portrait of Che.

Fitzpatrick later recalled the encounter at the Marine Hotel:
“We talked for a few minutes once he realized I knew who he was. His English was faltering, but he made himself understood. The first thing he said was, ‘You know I’m Irish. My father was Guevara Lynch.’ I was taken aback because I didn’t know that at all. He said he was proud of his Irish ancestors, that the Irish brought down the British Empire.”

When Che asked for a drink suggestion, Fitzpatrick—thinking rum might be his preference—was surprised by Che’s response. Che insisted on having an Irish drink. Fitzpatrick recommended...

07/05/2025

https://wildaboutireland.ie/the-arrival-of-the-franciscan-order-in-ireland-a-transformative-influence-on-society-and-culture/

06/05/2025

The image is of a beautifully ornate Canopy Tomb located in Kilconnell Franciscan Friary. It's unknown who was buried here, but the Franciscan Order were invited here by William Buí O’Kelly (d.1381) (Ó Ceallaigh) lord of Uí Mhaine, "Gaelic territory in East Galway. The decorative frieze below depicts from left to right Saint john, Louie, Our Lady, John the Baptist, Saints James ( together with his scallop shell), and Denis of Paris They have beaming smiles and would have been elaborated decorated. The position at the entrance of the church may have put a smile on pilgrims and travelers' faces too. These beautifully ornate structures speak of a period when Irish nobles lavished wealth and resources on the church, in particular a long-standing relationship with the Franciscan Medecant Orders.

Canopy Tombs in Ireland

• The Fitzgerald Tomb, Kildare Cathedral – A well-preserved canopy tomb belonging to the Fitzgerald family, a powerful Norman-Irish dynasty
• The O'Tunney Tomb, Kilcooly Abbey, Co. Tipperary – Features a Gothic-style canopy and intricate carvings.
• The Burke Tomb, Athenry Dominican Priory, Co. Galway – A fine example of a medieval Irish canopy tomb.
• The O'Connor Don Tomb, Roscommon Abbey – A 15th-century tomb with an elegant canopy and detailed stonework.
The prevalence of canopy tombs provide insight into Ireland’s medieval burial traditions and the artistic craftsmanship of the period.

wild_about_ireland_tours . Book a tour on www.wildaboutireland.ie

06/05/2025

Another wonderful day touring beautiful Connemara. To book, go to www.wildaboutireland.ie. #

04/05/2025

02/05/2025

Enjoying the good company www.wildaboutireland.ie

08/10/2024

https://wildaboutireland.ie/psychological-warfare-in-the-lands-of-giants/
Wild About Ireland Tours www.wildaboutireland.ie

Fionn McCool, the legendary hero of Ireland, received word that a Scottish king was laying claim to his homeland. In response, Fionn began constructing a causeway across the sea to confront the threat. However, upon seeing the sheer size of the Scottish giant, he had second thoughts and hastily retr...

03/10/2024