THE FORGOTTON COLONY: SAN PATRICIO de HIBERNIA, THE HISTORY, THE PEOPLE, AND THE LEGENDS OF THE IRISH COLONY OF McMULLEN-McGLOIN.

Burnet, Texas: Eakin Press, 1981. xi,459pp. Index. Photographs. Frontis. portrait of James M. McGloin. Bibliography. Appendices. Text map of Ireland. Map showing location of the colony on the front pastedown. Glossary. First edition, second printing. This copy is ex-library. There are spine labels. Small inked out area on the front pastedown. The title page also has a small inked out area  and a series of numbers at the bottom. No pockets or other markings were observed. The dust jacket has been firmly glued to the pastedowns covering up most of the map and site plan. The portions of the map and site plan on the flys are unobstructed. Except as noted, bright, serviceable copy. One of the more overlooked aspects of Texas history is the impact of the Irish. I am aware of only two books that deal exclusively with the topic. This one and Flannery’s The Irish Texas. The author, a native of San Patricio, chose to stay within the boundaries of the McMullen-McGloin grant which encompasses present San Patricio, Live Oak, McMullen, Atascosa, and Bee Counties. The book is divided into three parts. The longest is devoted to biographical sketches of the old colonists, including John McGloin and James McMullen. The second section presents essays on a variety of topics and institutions. Among them, San Patricio in later years, Saint Joseph’s convent, the aid provided by the Mexicans to the Irish settlers, and contributions of the Irish to Texas. The final chapters are devoted to recounting some of the legends and oral history of the colony. One of the appendices gives the list of grantees in the McMullen and McGloin colony. An important work, it is rarely offered.