Ireland and Spain Spain had an active trade and affiliation and affinity with Ireland. We have already mentioned the early migrations from or through Spain, and Celtic Gallatia. But the strongest cross cultural exchanges are documented in the middle ages. To use Dingle Kerry as an example, local history references repeatedly make mention of trade with Spain and France active after 1100. Wine was one such commodity mentioned in the known records. In fact, a treaty between Dingle and Spain implies to superceeded the relations with the far away Dublin or London. Spain had other ports in Galway. A mediteranean curcuit of Seaweed and Kelp for Iodine was sent from Galway, and wine and spirits were brought from Spain. After 1600, the "Flight of the Earls" confirmed a strong connection and previous communications with the King of Spain. and Catholic Spain, and the continental holdings of Spain (France, Flanders, Italy, Magna Grecia, etc.). The heads of several chieftain noble families went to school in Salamanca, and were employed by King Philip in the royal court and as military leaders. While traveling throughout the contininet, mention is regularly made of meetings with the local Spanish ambasadors. Irish families were married in San Sebastian and Bilbao. They lived in Cadiz, Alicante, Malaga, Benicarlos, Almeria, and Madrid. They avoided Elizabethan England, but supported Spain and England in the conflict with Napolean France. =welcome>about>help> back(to"start")>Spain>part2

Pilgrimages to St.James As confirmed by the journal of the Earls in Flight, a popular pilgrimage destination was St.James Cathedral in Compestella, the famous church and destination "at the end of the world" -- the outpost of Christendom where James the Appolsle is said to have founded, on the west coast of Spain, at the edge of the Atlantic. The last of the Roman teritory roads, relics of early christianity, and personal austerity and stations of spiritual growth, were a large part of the mideval society, and the walking trail led through Spain. Between 1600 and the late 1700s, the Irish are knighted into the Spainish Royalty through such means as The Knights of Santiago, The Knights of Cavaltra, whose origins were the hospitalieers and safe journey guardians of civility and and religion. Pedegrees were registered with the crown as proofs of noteriety and consistency, marriages with Spain were pursued to cement relationships, and many Irish families took up perminant residency.