Shamrock in Jamrock: Jamaica’s Irish Legacy

St. Patrick’s Day is an annual cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17, and a public holiday in Ireland, Northern Ireland, some Canadian provinces and in Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. It commemorates the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. While St. Patrick’s Day has religious origins, the holiday has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture and heritage where people wear green, decorate with shamrocks and often indulge in Irish whiskey and beer, particularly the iconic Irish stout Guinness. Jamaica does not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in any shape or form, but since the holiday is just around the corner, I thought it fitting to share five facts about Jamaica’s rich Irish heritage.

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1. Irish Settlers Came to Jamaica.

The first Irish settlers to Jamaica came in the early 1600s as sailors, servants and merchants. Many were Gaelic-Irish and Anglo-Irish Catholics, as well as convicts who were often sent to Jamaica as indentured servants against their will. Many died on the long voyage to the Caribbean or perished in Jamaica from disease, overwork and exhaustion from the unfamiliar tropical conditions. These initial Irish settlers made up the lower to middle income classes in Jamaica. Irish migration to Jamaica continued through the 1600s, especially as sugar became the leading crop. By the end of the 1600s, some 10% of Jamaica’s landowners were of Irish descent. Over time, many more Irish settlers came to the Caribbean, fleeing religious persecution and in search of land and riches from the booming trade of sugar, tobacco and more. Today, roughly 25% of Jamaicans claim some degree of Irish ancestry.

2. Many Jamaicans Have Irish Surnames.

As a legacy of Irish migration to Jamaica, many Jamaicans still have Irish last names to this day. These Irish surnames include: O’Sullivan, O’Hara, O’Connor, O’Brian, O’Neill, Dillon, Doyle, Murphy, Walsh, Lynch, Murray, McCarthy, Kennedy, Wilson, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Fitzpatrick, Cunningham, McDonald and McDermott. To the Jamaicans reading this, I’m sure you can think of MANY people with these Irish surnames.

Fun Fact: The Jamaican accent shares elements of the Irish accent.

3. Our Love For Beer & Stout Comes From The Irish.

Jamaicans consume a lot of beer as part of our Irish legacy. Our national beer is Red Stripe, a pale lager which is 4.7% ABV and brewed in both Jamaica and the Netherlands. Guinness, the dark iconic Irish stout, is popular and widely available in Jamaica at almost every bar, restaurant and supermarket. Guinness is one of the most popular imported beers on the island, but is also brewed locally using imported Irish wort along with local ingredients. Guinness often sponsors events and promotions in Jamaica, and it is a common sight at sporting events and music festivals, such as the annual Guinness Sounds of Greatness (GSOG) sound clash event.

4. Irish Food in Jamaica

Irish food is not a dominant cuisine in Jamaica, but the Irish presence in our diet can still be felt. In Jamaica, the term “Irish potato” is commonly used to refer to what many other countries call “white potatoes.” These potatoes are a staple in Jamaican cuisine and are used in various dishes, such as soups, stews, and side dishes. Shepherd’s pie is an Irish potato dish which I first had at my high school cafeteria where it is a weekly menu staple (big up Miss James!) and it can also be found ever so often on other Jamaican menus. Many Jamaican households make a version of cabbage and corned beef which is similar to the Irish dish by the same name, except we use canned corned beef which is minced instead of cut by the slice. We have an Irish Moss Drink in Jamaica which consists of an “Irish Moss” seaweed that is boiled with milk, sweetened with condensed milk, and flavored with spices like vanilla and nutmeg, creating a creamy and nourishing beverage. We also consume a lot of Bailey’s Irish cream in Jamaica.

5. Jamaica Has Many Irish Place Names.

Some Jamaican towns and landmarks have Irish names, indicating early Irish settlement and influence. These include:

• Carrick Foyle Pen in Trelawny
• Charlemont in St. Catherine
• Cherry Gardens, an affluent neighbourhood in St. Andrew, which was once owned in the 19th century by Mr. Joseph Gordon of Scotland. He had come to Jamaica as an attorney for a number of absentee-owned sugar estates, and later purchased several of them. There is a Cherry Garden in Ireland.
• Clonmel in St. Mary
• Donegal in St. Elizabeth
• Dublin Castle in St. Andrew
• Irish Town in the hills of St. Andrew was originally a community which housed Irish settlers who made barrels in Cooperage, Gordon Town to export rum.
• Knockpatrick in Manchester

Wrap Up

As I close, I think it’s important to acknowledge that Jamaica’s Irish legacy, like other historical influences, has complex layers that include both positive contributions and negative aspects, such as the involvement of some Irish settlers in the slave trade and plantation system. Nevertheless, the Irish heritage is an integral part of Jamaica’s rich historical tapestry, contributing to the country’s identity and diversity. Did you know about Jamaica’s Irish heritage? Let me know in the comments below. I learnt a lot of this information in my research for St. Paddy’s Day. 🙂 As always, thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to subscribe.

You may also like:

• Easter celebrations in Jamaica
• Christmas celebrations in Jamaica

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