Have you ever heard of Black Irish ....?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Irish

The sayings comes from back in the 1800's when Irish people started to emigrate and people in other countries were surprised at how so many of them had dark features so they were called the 'black irish'. It doesn't have anything to do with being african, jamaican etc. The popular theory that they were all descendants from the Spanish Armada is a myth, very few men survived the Armada attacks and even fewer went on to live in Ireland, most returning to Spain. There is some confusion over what it means, dark hair, brown eyes and an olive complexion or black hair, pale skin and blue eyes. I myself have been called black Irish as i have naturally black hair, green eyes and very pale skin so there i don't think there is a definite description over what characteristics someone has to have to be considered black Irish.

They are Irish people with darker features, descended from Irish mixed with spanish or other "dark" cultures that came in contact with the Irish. For example, an Irish man with black hair and dark eyes would be called Black Irish. I believe there are also Swedes who are called Black too for the same reason.

Yes I have, they are called Black Irish because their black hair and dark eyes. Just the opposite of what people think the Irish look like.

Only things I have heard...when the Spanish Armada crashed in Ireland...there were a lot of black people in the Spanish Navy...they were welcomed into Ireland as friends of the Irish and enemies of the English...not sure how much truth there is to it...but it sounds reasonable

From what my Irish side of the family say, this refers to the occurance of black hair/ dark eyes in Irish families dating back to possibly the landing of people from the Spanish Armada, Moors, Jews or Hugenots escaping the Spanish Inquisition, etc. etc.

In my family, in each generation there is someone who is born with black hair, or in my case, brown hair and black eyebrows.

The term Black Irish is a term used by some descendants of Irish emigrants to describe their ancestors. It refers to the possessing of dark hair and eyes as opposed to the caricature of Irish people with red hair, pale skin, and blue or green eyes, a difference which is possibly due to less Scandinavian or Germanic ancestry being found in people on the west of Ireland

no but i have heard of the black and red Douglas's of Scotland( I'm a Douglas). but from what i read all of your answeres are simply rumors of where the term came from,like deedleydee said.also the term has never been heard of in ireland.

california native, i just wanted to say since when is ireland scandinavian. Ireland is an island to the west of scotland and england. Also spain and africa are closer than russia is,but thhat don't make them of african or spanish desent either.

the truth is nobody know where the term came from and why,end of story.

Black Irish refers to Irish people who tan very dark and have dark hair and often dark eyes. They are not referring to Black as in African Black.

I heard they were descended from Spanish wrecked off Ireland after the storm that sank the armada. I knew one, kinky jet black hair, bright green eyes, pale white skin, one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

I have heard of it, but I don't know if it is referring to color or behavior, as in the black sheep of the family type. When I first heard it was about 30yrs ago.