A special Irish in Cyprus

In March 1838 an Irish physician came to Cyprus as a medical attendant to a nobleman travelling to improve his health. The Irish man wrote a book, about his tour in the East, referring Cyprus as well, although he stayed only for two days on the island. He reports that on March 7, 1838 he arrived in Cyprus from Kastellorizo.

He stayed only in the town of Limassol, which describes as poor and having the characteristics of all the oriental towns. It was the period of Ottoman rule when the Cypriot towns were dominated by the minarets of the mosques.  The Irish man specially praises the Cyprus wine, reaffirming its great reputation. The Irish man was William Robert Wills Wilde, father of the great Irish writer, poet and playwright Oscar Wilde.

*The text is part of the writer's article, " Irish travelers to Cyprus" in Giorgos Georgis-Georgios Kazamias (ed.), Ireland-Cyprus. Parallel Journeys.Common Aspirations, Nicosia 2013, p. 58-65.