DESCRIPTION:
From the album Long & Tall Tales (2011). Length 6:37.
Full album here https://youtu.be/XiIu1t3XVrA
The Celtic peoples take pride in knowing their heritage, and I knew very little about my Irish background, and only from the English point of view. I am black Irish, supposedly due to a recessant gene brought to Ireland by shipwrecked sailors of the Spanish Armada in 1588 AD. The "black" refers to a darker skin tone and an ability to tan instead of blossoming into freckles in the sun, not actually black. This tale is mostly based on the letters of Francisco de Cuellar, a ship's captain in the Armada, a harrowing read if there ever was one. Here is a link to his amazing tale. https://celt.ucc.ie//published/T108200/index.html
This is not meant to be a definitive history of these events, nor a judgement of any of the actions. Telling a story here. Downloads, lyrics, and a glossary of terms can be found at https://kellycavanagh.com/track/2281633/black-irish
Copyright Kelly Cavanagh Homespun Music SOCAN
All Rights Reserved
1. Pacific Grace, Victoria dockside photo by Kelly Cavanagh
2. Flag of the Basque homeland by Sabino Arana 1894
3. Pecheurs Cote Basque by Henri Royer 1869-1938
4. Philip II of Spain by Sofonisba Anguissola 1530-1625
5. Elizabeth Regina Armada Portrait by George Gower 1540-1596
6. Wright Molyneux Chart of the World 1599
7. Drake viewing treasure taken from a Spanish ship by unknown
8. Pope Sixtus V by unknown
9. Invincible Armada by English School 16th century
10. Armada Galleas by English School 16th century
11. Storm at Sea by Willem van de Velde the Younger 1633-1707
12. Sir Francis Drake by Nicholas Hilliard 1547-1619
13. Alonzo Perez de Guzman, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia by unknown
14. Vision of St. Ildefonsus of Toledo by El Greco 1541-1614
15. Basque Landscape by Leon Kroll 1884-1974
16. The Spanish Armada leaving the Port of Ferrol by Sir Oswald W. Brierly 1817-1894
17. The Spanish Armada off the English Coast by C. C. van Wieringen 1577-1633
18. The Midday Rest Sailors Yarning by Henry Scott Tuke 1858-1929
19. The Armada in Sight by John Seymour Lucas 1880
20. Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma by Otto van Veen
21. Regulus Under Attack by British Fireships by Louis-Phillippe Crepin 1772-1851
22. Defeat of the Spanish Armada by Philipp Jakob Loutherbourg the Younger 1740-1812
23. Storm at Sea by Andries van Eertvelt 1590-1652
24. The Track of the Armada Around Britain by Robert Adams and Augustine Ryther 1590
25. Pecheurs Cote Basque by Henri Royer 1869-1938
26. Ships Running Aground in a Storm by Ludolf Backhuysen 1630-1708
27. Storm at Sea by Pieter Mulier 1637-1701
28. The Gust by Willem van de Velde the Younger 1633-1707
29. Burya Na More by Ivan Aivazovsky 1817-1900
30. A Seastorm by Joseph Vernet 1714-1789
31. Bentheim Castle by Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael 1628-1682
32. View of Killarney by William Ashford 1746-1824
33. Landscape with a celtic cross by John MacWhirter 1839-1911
34. Imaginary view with ruins by Thomas Sautelle Roberts 1760-1826
35. Connemara Girl by Augustus Nicholas Burke 1838-1891
36. Basque Landscape by Leon Kroll 1884-1974
37. Connemara Girl by Augustus Nicholas Burke 1838-1891
38. Caomhanach, the Cavanagh Family Crest

These images are in the public domain. Thanks to the painters and photographers.
Okay so there are some wrong flags flying, I borrowed El Greco's painting of St. Ildefonsus to stand in for Philip II writing letters (it just worked for me), and yeah there's a Russian ship in there, but I'm just trying to tell a story here. The story of one man against the backdrop of huge historical events. Enjoy!