On Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:09:35 -0000, Plusnet wrote:

Back in the 17th Century it was quite common to refer to "a black
woman" - meaning someone with black hair.

Even now we still talk about "a blond woman".

"Black Irish" referred to jet-black hair and nothing to do with other
organs or Hiberno-Caribbean musicians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Irish