that up to thirty per cent of the population claim some degree of Irish ancestry. It is believed that as many as 30,000 Irish people emigrated to Argentina between the 1830s and the 1890s. This was encouraged by the clergy, as they considered a Catholic country, Argentina, preferable to a more Protestant United States. This flow of emigrants dropped sharply when assisted passage to Australia was introduced at which point the Argentine government responded with their own scheme and wrote to Irish bishops, seeking their support. However, there was little or no planning for the arrival of a large number of immigrants, no housing, no food. Many died, others made their way to the United States and other destinations, some returned to Ireland, a few remained and prospered. Thomas Croke Archbishop of Cashel, said: "I most solemnly conjure my poorer countrymen, as they value their happiness hereafter, never to set foot on the Argentine Republic however tempted to do so they may be by offers of a passage or an assurance of comfortable homes." Some famous Argentines of Irish descent and Irish people who settled in Argentina include Che Guevara, former president Edelmiro Julián Farrell, and admiral William Brown. There are people of Irish descent all over South America, such as the Chilean liberator Bernardo O'Higgins and the Peruvian photographer Mario Testino. Although some Irish retained their surnames intact, others were assimilated into the Spanish vernacular. The last name O'Brien, for example, became Obregón. People of Irish descent are also one of the largest self-reported ethnic groups in Canada, after English, French and Scottish Canadians. As of 2006, Irish Canadians number around 4,354,155. See also Anglo Irish Ethnic groups in Europe Hiberno-Normans Irish Travellers List of Americans of Irish descent List of expatriate Irish populations List of Ireland-related topics List of Irish people Norse–Gaels Ogham Tanistry The Ireland Funds Ulster-Scots dialects Ulster-Scots people Notes Citations References Irish Names - origins and meanings at Library Ireland External links Blood of the Irish—Documentary about Irish genetic history Celtic ethnic groups Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom Ethnic groups in Ireland