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  • Richard Fitzpatrick

    Maynooth University

    Dr Richard Fitzpatrick is a Research Fellow in the Arts and Humanities Institute at Maynooth University. He is a Research Ireland awardee.

    View of la Rochelle in 1627. 19th Century engraving. (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

    Inside the world of ducking & diving 18th century Irish merchants

    These businessmen successfully navigated the grey zones of contraband, clandestine trade and smuggling from Youghal to Havana

    History • 08 Jul
    Huanta in Peru where George Ryan found himself in 1768. Drawing: William Lewis Herndon from Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon made under Direction of the Navy Department (Public domain)

    Meet George Ryan, the Tipperary Don Quixote in 18th century Peru

    The Tipperaryman's adventures as a grandee at large in South America involved everything from coca collection to debt collecting

    History • 27 Jun
    Fluent in several languages and well-trained in business, Nicholas Walsh was one of the most successful Irish merchants in Tenerife, but lacked dedication to the job and his trading house was brought to the brink of ruin. (Image: Private collection)

    How 18th century Irish traders set up business in the Canaries

    Irish merchants were drawn to Tenerife by the growing economic opportunities offered by the island's sweet wines

    History • 15 Jan

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