Irish Chileans (in
Spanish: Hiberno-chilenos,
Irish: Gael-Sileánach) are the inhabitants of
Chile who either came from some part of the island of
Ireland or are descendants of immigrants from there. Generally coming in the 18th century and early 19th century, the generally
Catholic Irish were seeking refuge from the oppression of the
Protestant-run government of the
Kingdom of Great Britain.
Spain, being a Catholic power, enticed many Irish to move to Latin America. Immigration diminished later in the 19th century as
Catholic Emancipation made emigration to a Catholic nation less of a vital consideration and as the
United States and
Canada established themselves as more viable lands for settlement.[citation needed]
A large proportion of Irish Chileans are sheep farmers in the
Magallanes Region of the far south of the country, and the city of
Punta Arenas has a large Irish foundation dating back to the 18th century.[citation needed]
The most notable Irish Chilean,
Bernardo O'Higgins, is often referred to as the "Father of Chile", and is commemorated in many places in Chile.[citation needed]
