Celebrating links between the Irish midlands and Argentina

The claim that there are people in Argentina who speak English with the accent of the grandparents or great-grandparents who left this area in the 1800s and 1900s to emigrate to South America isn’t a mere claim: it’s actually true.

From this side of the ocean, those links between the midland counties and the pampas of Argentina are still honoured, and there is even a Longford Westmeath Argentina Society, founded 34 years ago and still going strong.

A highlight on the calendar of the activities of the Longford Westmeath Argentina Society each year is the annual ‘asado’ (barbecue), which takes place at The Rustic Inn in Abbeyshrule. The 2023 event is to take place this year on July 29. Providing the music will be ‘The Man with the Golden Trumpet’, Johnny Carroll, and fans of the tango will again have the chance to see it performed dancers who have spent years learning this complicated sequence. As ever there will be fine steak served, smoking hot off the barbecue, together with Argentine-style side dishes and salad and for dessert, the Argentine classic dulce de leche.

Emigrants

Ballymore, Ballymahon, Streamstown, Ballynacargy and Tang are among the areas from which the greatest numbers of Ireland’s emigrants to Argentina hailed – but in fact, there were emigrants from all over Westmeath and Longford, and Offaly, Wexford and Galway too.

The surnames live on to this day: families still linking back with their relatives in this area include MacLoughlins, Noonans, Duncans, Gannons, Duncans, Kavanaghs, Caseys and Ryans. It is estimated that a half million Argentines have some Irish ancestry.

Also well-known in Argentina is the hurling club, located in Buenos Aires, and still in existence is the almost 150-year old newspaper for Argentina’s Irish community, The Southern Cross.

After the asado, according to society chair, Una Byrne, the members will look at the contribution to the world of music made by composer Padraic Ganly. In 1918 in Buenos Aires, Ganly published ‘Poblacht na hÉireann: 110 Original Irish Dance Tunes and Other Pieces for Violin, Flute, etc’, all of which he had composed.

Ganly’s origins are believed to have been in the Tang area.

Tickets for the asado, at €45, are available from members of the committee and officers or by calling 086 2627410. Besides chair Una Byrne, who is from Ardagh, the other officers are Tomás Kelly from Castlepollard, secretary; Tom Ganly from Tullamore, treasurer, and Eilís Ryan, Ballymore, PRO. On the committee are Peter Wallace, Multyfarnham, Mary Egan, Ferbane, John Casey, Mullingar, Michael Newman, Kilbeggan and Joe Masterson, Castlepollard. Alternatively make contact via the society’s Facebook page at facebook.com/longfordwestmeathargentinasociety.