Irish History, Impacting the World

As we learned on the Historic Stroll Kinsale, the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 became a pivotal point in history, not just for the people of Ireland but for the Spanish and British, one might dare say the world as well.

It's a long story, as you might guess, so I'll be quick and succinct. In 1601, the Spanish sailed from La Coruna, Spain (just like we did on Terrapin) to Kinsale to sneak up and defeat their arch enemy, England. Irish chieftains (clan leaders) from all over the country (especially in the north) left their lands to fight with the Spanish against the British.  The British were victorious and the defeat was pronounced and complete.  When the Irish farmers went back to their lands, especially in the north, the Scottish (Protestants) had moved in from England, settling the land and bringing their Protestant values.  When Ireland chose its independence from England in 1922, the descendants who were from Scotland decided to align with the British creating a new country called Northern Ireland and breaking from the Republic of Ireland (Roman Catholic).

Oddly enough, it also impacts Brexit today as some might say the pivotal support to leave the EU is from Northern Ireland. Without that demographic in Northern Ireland, the 51% to 48% vote may have turned out to be different.  When the U.K. leaves the European Union in 2019, it will effect the world in so many ways, with issues like trade, monetary values, and tourism to mention the obvious.  It is more apparent to Baxter and I now being here in the midst of it, but it is a point in history that will definitely change the world.

If the Spanish had not sailed into Kinsale that fateful day, Brexit may just be a funny sounding word.

Barry providing a tour of Kinsale with a mural behind him illustrating the changes

The differences are evident.  The door on the left was from prior to the 17th century and then after the city was redeveloped, the door on the right is after the 20th century.

A model of Kinsale with the wall built around it.  Where we were standing would have been underwater.

'World's End Gate' where the Spanish entered through the wall that surrounded Kinsale

A Lima Coin collected by privateers from Spanish ships

The story of the Spaniard in Kinsale