Che Guevara and His Irish Roots: The Revolutionary with Galway Blood
When people think of Che Guevara, they often picture the defiant revolutionary who helped ignite the Cuban Revolution. But few realize that behind the iconic beret and the fiery ideals beat the heart of an Irish rebel—quite literally.
Che Guevara’s Irish ancestry traces back to Patrick Lynch, a Galway native born in 1715. Lynch emigrated to Buenos Aires in 1749 via Bilbao, Spain, after the confiscation of lands during Ireland’s turbulent colonial era. Once in Argentina, Lynch became part of a prosperous Irish immigrant community. The Lynch family played a pivotal role in founding Hurlingham, a town near Buenos Aires that still bears traces of Irish influence today.
Alongside other Galway families, the Lynches became successful ranchers and merchants. In the 1850s, they showed solidarity with their homeland by raising significant funds for famine relief in Galway. They even helped sponsor Father Fahy, a priest from Loughrea, to assist over 200 Irish farmers in making the transatlantic journey to Argentina. Fittingly, Hurlingham’s school and church are named after Galway’s patron saint, St. Brendan.
Che Guevara’s Irish Identity
Ernesto “Che” Guevara was fully aware of his Irish lineage. During a stopover in Ireland after visiting Russia, he visited Kilkee, County Clare, where fate brought him face-to-face with a young hotel worker named Jim Fitzpatrick—the very artist who would go on to create the world-famous red and black portrait of Che.
Fitzpatrick later recalled the encounter at the Marine Hotel:
“We talked for a few minutes once he realized I knew who he was. His English was faltering, but he made himself understood. The first thing he said was, ‘You know I’m Irish. My father was Guevara Lynch.’ I was taken aback because I didn’t know that at all. He said he was proud of his Irish ancestors, that the Irish brought down the British Empire.”
When Che asked for a drink suggestion, Fitzpatrick—thinking rum might be his preference—was surprised by Che’s response. Che insisted on having an Irish drink. Fitzpatrick recommended whiskey, with a word of caution: add a mixer if you’re not used to it. Che opted for Power’s whiskey with water and sipped it slowly.
A Lighter, a Legacy, and the Luck of the Irish
Before departing Ireland, Che purchased a lighter from Shannon Airport’s duty-free shop. He jokingly referred to it as his “lucky lighter.” It accompanied him through numerous adventures, but after the failed revolutionary campaign in the Congo, he gifted it to one of Fidel Castro’s companions, saying it wasn’t so lucky after all.
Che’s Irish wit even made it into his letters. Writing to his father after his Irish stopover, he remarked:
“I am in this green Ireland of your ancestors. When they found out, the television station came to ask me about the Lynch genealogy, but in case they were horse thieves or something like that, I didn’t say much.”
Che Guevara was eventually captured and executed in Bolivia in 1967 following another unsuccessful attempt to spread revolution. After his death, his father poignantly stated:
“You must understand, in the veins of my son runs the blood of Irish rebels.”
Che Guevara’s story isn’t just one of global revolution—it’s also a deeply personal tale of heritage, rebellion, and connection to the past. From the fields of Galway to the jungles of South America, the Irish spirit of resistance ran strong in Che’s blood.
