Irish Argentines: From Foxford to Buenes Aires via Donabate

While we can't claim Diego Maradona or Leo Messi as Irish, the World Cup has revealed a link between Ireland and Argentina thanks to Alexis MacAllister, the Brighton midfielder whose father Carlos also played for Argentina.

Assumed by many to have Scottish heritage, it became known recently that his family origins were actually in Donabate, Co. Dublin. The McAllisters as they were originally named were not alone. Argentina has the fifth highest Irish migrant population in the world and the largest for a non-English speaking country, so the connection between our countries is deep.

Irish immigration to Argentina was strongest in the second half of the 1800s. Counties Westmeath, Offaly, Longford and Wexford in particular have strong bonds with Argentina. The opportunity to progress in farming had an appeal as did the fact that Argentina was a largely Catholic country. The integration of the Irish provides some interesting links to soccer in the land of silver.

You’re doing something right to get a football club named after you and Guillermo Brown really must have done something right having four football teams in Argentina named after him. From Foxford, Co. Mayo, William Brown went into the military in his new homeland and is regarded as the Father of the Argentine Navy.

Three of the clubs are in Buenos Aires Province. Club Atlético Almirante Brown also known as Brown de Arrecifes was founded by Argentine Irish José Ryan and an Argentine German called Stegmann so adopted green and black stripes as a nod to their heritages.

Then there’s Club Almirante Brown in yellow and black, Club Atlético Brown or Brown de Adrogue as they’re also known, and then Club Social y Atlético Guillermo Brown based in Chubut Province.

None of the teams