The Kilrane Boys

Curated by Cathrine Agnew with research support from Leo Coy, Rosslare Maritime Heritage Museum

Three stories about the roughly 40-45,000 Irish people who went to Argentina between 1844 and 1912. Of this number, a great many were from County Wexford and a particular groups hailed from Kilrane, a village adjacent to Rosslare Harbour.

From Kilrane to Argentina

An Excerpt from the Song The Kilrane Boys by William McCormack It being on the twelfth of April, in eighteen forty four,In the blooming spring, when birds did sing, all round sweet Erin’s shore.The feathered train in concert, their tuneful notes did…

John James Murphy in Argentina

In April 1844, John James Murphy, emigrated from the townland of Haysland in Kilrane Parish with the rest of the Kilrane Boys to Argentina. The Rosslare harbour was not yet built and it would have been known as Ballygeary at that time. Ireland would…

Irish and Welsh Colonies in Argentina

When exploring the shared cultural history of Irish Sea Port towns, it is expected that there will be movement of people in both directions. However less expected is emigrants leaving from both Ireland and Wales, to head to the same Liverpool port…