posted March 05, 2006 02:57 AM         

Both of my grandmother's parents immigrated from Ireland to the US in the 30s. They both (according to my grandma) are of Black Irish decent. They both had dark hair (when they were young), and blue eyes. My great-grandmother had very light skin. My great-grandfather had sort of an olive complexion... light olive, if you will.
(My great grandma's maiden name was O'Connell, and my great grandpa's name was Pullen.)

I've done some Googling on the subject and have come up with several different answers... The most popular of which is saying the term Black Irish refers to Irish people with dark hair and eyes.

This confused me because the only factor my great grandparents have in common with that theory is the dark hair. Their eyes were blue... one with darker skin, the other with light skin.

A couple other theories circulating are...

... the sailors from the Spanish Armada washed up on the shores of Ireland and impregnated Irish women.

... something about a seaport at Gallway Bay being built by the Spanish in the 1600s allowing Spaniards to impregnate Irish women.

I found a few articles stating that "... some of the Celtic peoples - including the ancestors of all the modern Celtic nations - had a largely pre-Celtic genetic ancestry, shared with the Basque people and possibly going back to the Palaeolithic."

So... there are lots of links to Spaniards.

I've also read that the term "Black Irish" is mostly an American term... that folks from Ireland usually haven't heard of it.

So... I guess my whole point here is to get input from y'all... especially the Knowflakes from Europe.

What do you guys make of all this Black Irish business?

Could it be something like when the North Africans invaded Sicily, effecting the the common genetics?

Sue G... how's about you? What's your take on all of this?