Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and we share some history with the Irish. The British forcefully enslaved both Irish and the Scottish people. Prior to 1619 (beginning of the African slave trade) the Battle of Kinsale between the Irish and the English resulted in some 30,000 military prisoners, in which they created an official policy of banishment. The policy would mean slavery for the Irish and the Scottish in the Americas.  The white slaves were of very fair complexion and did not do well in the sun so it was in the slave masters interest to make sure the African slaves and the Irish/Scottish slaved procreated. European slavery ended in the late 17th century but between 1600 to 1699, more Irish and Scotts were sold as slaves than Africans. The Irish slaves were cheaper and were treated worse than the Africans.  Only after the African Slave trade had become more profitable did the Irish and Scottish became Indentured servants and given an option to earn their freedom.  

As a result of this slave trade the Caribbean has a large amount of people of Celtic and African descent, including Antigua, Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and most noticeable on the Island of Montserrat where it has the highest population of redheads outside of Ireland, it is also known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.  In Barbados they are called "red legs" because they arrived in kilts and their legs were sun burnt and later was red from the number of beatings they got from the British. It is also reported that a number of freed Africicans also owned white slaves.

Because of this history it is common for some people to have Celtic last names (e.g., Marcus Garvey) throughout the Caribbean.  

Most Irish slaves died within a few years and the small number of survivors did not speak of their slavery experience. In Trinidad, historians report that the poorer Irish people settled and built a community of their own in and around Patna, Deigo Martin, Kelly Village, Caroni and Manzanilla.

At Patna there were the Hinds, Harris, and Toyers families. At Kelly Village there was the Kelly family, after whom the village was named. The Kernahans lived at Manzanilla and were responsible for the village called Kernahan, which is close to Mayaro.