The man from Murphy

There was no Irish side to cheer on at the recent World Cup. I was keeping an eye on the US team, mainly because its manager Mauricio Pochettino was born in the town of Murphy.

The town is in Santa Fe province, Argentina. I passed through it some years ago, travelling from Rosario to Venado Tuerto. It is named for Irishman John James Murphy.

Argentina is the only South American country to which the Irish emigrated in any great numbers. Most arrived between 1830 and 1880, the majority from three Irish countries: Westmeath, Longford and the Forth and Bargy area of Wexford (the south-eastern tip of the county).

John James Murphy was one.

From Kilrane in Wexford, Murphy emigrated to Argentina in 1844. He started off digging ditches in Chascomus, south of Buenos Aires. Before long, he took up sheep farming. In a sector that was to become an important part of the economy, the Irish pre-dominated.

Under a system of mediería (halves), an Irish shepherd might take charge of 1,500 to 2,000 sheep on behalf of a local landowner. After three to five years, he could retain half the increase in the flock, plus a share of the wool.

In this way, the Irishman built his wealth. In 1883, he bought 18,000 hectares of land in Santa Fe province, his third estancia, on which the town of Murphy would be built.

By the time of his death in 1909 in Buenos Aires, he was a successful and wealthy man, owner of over 28,000 hectares of land.

Murphy had come a long way from digging ditches in Chascomus.