The Port of Waterford Building
The Exiled Merchant
Did you know?
1
Lots of Irish merchants moved to Cadiz in Spain!
Most of the Irish merchants who moved to Cadiz went because it had a monopoly with trade from South America.
The Penal Laws forced many Catholics to leave
2
The laws banned Catholics from being part of society in lots of ways, ranging from owning land, holding offices or certain jobs and even being able to own horses!
3
Cadiz became a melting pot of Irish and Spanish!
Many of those who moved over adopted Spanish first names and intermarried with locals. For example, Lawrence Carew became Lorenzo Carew and John Walsh became Juan Valois!
The Port of Waterford Building
Timeline
1683
Lawrence Carew was born in Waterford during the time of the Penal Laws to parents who originated in Drogheda.
1713
Due to the persecution of Catholics, Lawrence moved to Cadiz and married a wealthy Portuguese widow. In 1724, he had his pedigree commissioned in Waterford to demonstrate his Catholic faith and heritage.
1731
Lawrence Carew changed his name to Lorenzo Carew as he became a Spanish citizen.
1750s
Lorenzo gifted some silver candlesticks to the Big Chapel back in Ireland and funded an almshouse for poor widows in Jenkins Lane, Waterford. He also supported a charity in Cadiz, a hospital that had a mural of St Patrick expelling the snakes from Ireland.
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