raharris1973
Well-known member
Could France, or possibly Spain, better leverage Irish Catholics for settler colonial projects? Or possibly some of that remnant Catholic, Gaelic-speaking minority of Highland Scots?
The French who always seemed short of colonial manpower for their North American colonies while they lasted, seem like they could have benefitted the most, more than the Spanish.
Possible occasions for infusions of Irish exiles that happened in real-life include in the early 17th century, Flight of the Earls - Wikipedia, circa 1607, and starting in the later 17th century, Flight of the Wild Geese - Wikipedia, circa 1688.
Perhaps these could have been expanded. Or France could have habitually employed more of these Irish troops for American garrison, or offered them lands, with their families, in the St. Lawrence, upon retirement/end of enlistment.
In this way in theory they could build up the settler population of Canada and possibly Louisiana a bit more with more presumably loyal Catholics, while still not taking French farmers/peasants of the lands and estates back home.
The Spanish might have similarly tried something with their Irish exiles to strengthen their hold on disputed frontiers like in southern Argentina/the Malvinas, or Florida, New Mexico, California, or Texas.
The British government seemed pretty permissive of foreign emigration from Ireland to non-British possessions, to even rival countries, *even for military service* in the wild geese wikipedia article. One imagines that emigration for mere settling purposes rather than foreign military service would have been less cause for government interference and crackdowns.
The French who always seemed short of colonial manpower for their North American colonies while they lasted, seem like they could have benefitted the most, more than the Spanish.
Possible occasions for infusions of Irish exiles that happened in real-life include in the early 17th century, Flight of the Earls - Wikipedia, circa 1607, and starting in the later 17th century, Flight of the Wild Geese - Wikipedia, circa 1688.
Perhaps these could have been expanded. Or France could have habitually employed more of these Irish troops for American garrison, or offered them lands, with their families, in the St. Lawrence, upon retirement/end of enlistment.
In this way in theory they could build up the settler population of Canada and possibly Louisiana a bit more with more presumably loyal Catholics, while still not taking French farmers/peasants of the lands and estates back home.
The Spanish might have similarly tried something with their Irish exiles to strengthen their hold on disputed frontiers like in southern Argentina/the Malvinas, or Florida, New Mexico, California, or Texas.
The British government seemed pretty permissive of foreign emigration from Ireland to non-British possessions, to even rival countries, *even for military service* in the wild geese wikipedia article. One imagines that emigration for mere settling purposes rather than foreign military service would have been less cause for government interference and crackdowns.