Visiting
Visiting: Not confirmedas of 11 October 2026
A town; the Copa Arturo Kenny polo cup is played there yearly, by Olympedia's account; no current Irish society was confirmed.
Source: Olympedia, Arturo Kenny (accessed 11 Oct 2026), 11 October 2026(opens in a new tab)Venado Tuerto, in southern Santa Fe, belongs to the later phase of Irish settlement, when the Irish moved into southern Santa Fe from the 1880s. Its founder was Eduardo Casey. Casey was born on 20 April 1847 at the estancia El Durazno in Lobos, the son of Lawrence Casey of Co. Westmeath and Mary O'Neill of Co. Wicklow, according to the SILAS dictionary. He bought 72 leagues, about 130,000 hectares, at Venado Tuerto and was the first to export live cattle to England. He was ruined in the 1890 crisis but repaid his small investors, and died in Buenos Aires in 1906. His remains were reburied at Venado Tuerto on 26 April 1973. The historian María Eugenia Cruset calls him an Irish immigrant; because he was Argentine-born, this site calls him Irish-Argentine. Edward Cavanagh of Mullingar also held land here, and the IAHS index lists Irish-named towns nearby: Murphy, Hughes, Duffy and San Eduardo. The 1895 census counted 508 Irish in Santa Fe province.
The Argentine foreign ministry's 2017 catalogue shows Laurence Ginnell, the Dáil's envoy, with the Irish community and Fr Seehy in Venado Tuerto in 1921, and at St Patrick's Day events there in 1922. A church was built for the Irish in the town, according to Nally. The Copa Arturo Kenny, named for the 1924 Olympic polo champion, is played there each year, Olympedia records. No current Irish society in the town was confirmed.
Published sources give different versions. Here is each one with its source, and the wording we use.
Eduardo Casey's status
An Irish immigrant and member of the Buenos Aires upper bourgeoisie
Source: María Eugenia Cruset, census study of the Irish in Monte and Saladillo (2021), 2021(opens in a new tab)Born at Lobos in 1847 to Irish parents
Source: SILAS DILAB, José Bernardo Wallace, Casey, Eduardo (1 Nov 2005), 1 November 2005(opens in a new tab)We say: The Irish-Argentine founder of Venado Tuerto
1852–1923
Westmeath TD sent by de Valera as the Dáil's envoy to South America in 1921; his Buenos Aires mission launched a loan, won provincial attention and foundered after the Treaty.
1847–1906
The Irish-Argentine land developer who founded Venado Tuerto, first exported live cattle to England and was ruined in the crisis of 1890.
Team photograph, 19241888
A member of the polo team that won Argentina's first Olympic gold in 1924; the Copa Arturo Kenny is played at Venado Tuerto each year.
Sources