Cork to Paraguay

EVEN with the Gathering hoping to tempt those of Irish descent to visit the country of their forebears, we still tend to think only in terms of North America, England and Australia.

Those were the destinations during the Famine, economic emigration and transportation. However the Irish spread far and wide, particularly to South America. Among those was a Cork woman, virtually unknown in her own country, who was proclaimed a national heroine of Paraguay some years ago and features in a 1984 book entitled The World’s Wickedest Women.

Eliza Lynch was born in Charleville, County Cork in 1833 and the family emigrated to Paris during the Famine. In 1850, Eliza was married to a French officer, Quatrefages and they moved to Algeria.
Maybe she tired of garrison life or maybe she eloped with a Russian but she was back in Paris in three years. When all Russians had to leave Paris during the Crimean War, Eliza was left to her own devises and she worked as a singer and escort.

At this time she met Francisco Lopez, son of the ruler of Paraguay who had been sent to Paris to develope political connections and trade for his country. When he returned home he was followed by Eliza, now pregnant with his child. In Paraguay she was ignored by the elite of society but lavished with wealth and comfort by Lopez. Even though they never married, they had seven children together.

On the death of his father, Francisco Lopez became dictator of Paraguay in 1862 and Eliza became a very powerful and influential woman. She introduced many European customs and social occasions to the country.
In 1864, Lopez declared war on Brazil and some blamed Eliza for forcing him into that, instead of seeking help from his neighbouring countries, Uruguay, which was similarly surrounded by powerful neighbours and Argentina, where he had negotiated an end to their civil war. He actually finished up at war with all three. It was a total disaster for Paraguay.

Over five years the country was destroyed with nearly 90% of its male population killed, as were 50% of the women and children. During the war, Eliza and other women followed the army and she was present when Lopez and one of her children were killed. She is said to have buried both by digging their grave with her bare hands. Taken prisoner she escaped execution but was banished to Europe. Five years later she returned hoping to claim her former property but was put on trial and permanently exiled.

Her funds quickly ran out and she ended her days destitute. She died in a lodging house, possibly of malnutrition, in 1886. Her grave was paid for by one of her sons.
Almost 100 years later, Paraguay was again ruled by a military junta and they moved to rehabilitate the reputation of Francesco Lopez. As part of this, Eliza’s remains were brought back and re-interred in the national cemetery in the capital Asuncion. She was proclaimed a national heroine by the military dictator General Stroessner and a huge memorial erected in her honour.

Eliza Lynch, army wife, escort and once the most powerful woman in Paraguay was born in Charleville on June 3, 1833 – 180 years ago this week.