Paddy O'Shea was the first Irishman in China. Indeed, he was the first foreigner in China to open a pub, which was a regular haunt of 13th century visitors to Beijing such as the Polo brothers, Maffeo and Niccilo.
Paddy was born in 1244 in a village called Ballyshea, in the south of Ireland. His parents, Paddy Senior and Bridget, infused Paddy with a passion for books and storytelling, fuelling in him a strong sense of adventure and a longing to see lands far away.
