Irish merchant community in 18th century Cádiz

Members of the Irish community in 18th century Cádiz prospered, particularly in the last quarter of the century. Their success was due mainly to their achievement as merchants engaged in colonial trade. Small in number compared to other immigrant groups, they played a disproportionately prominent role in civic and ecclesiastical life, and as patrons of the arts in their adopted city. Their success stories in Cádiz contrast starkly with the lack of opportunity available to them in Ireland. Nevertheless, they did maintain vigorous mercantile and dynastic connections with their home places. Their accomplishments were all the more remarkable in that they were achieved against a background of fierce competition in Europe's most dynamic entrepôt of the day.

Further reading

O'Flanagan P. and J. Walton, The Irish Community at Cádiz during the Late Eighteenth Century, Chapter 16 in Clarke, H., Prunty, J. and Hennessy, M. (eds) (2004) Surveying Ireland's Past, multidisciplinary essays in honour of Anngret Simms, Geography Publications, Dublin, pp. 353-383.

History of Ireland | Economy of Ireland