William Bulfin of Derrinlough, near Birr, County Offaly, emigrated to Argentina in the early 1880s to work as a gaucho on the pampas. He met his wife, Annie O'Rourke, while working on the ranch of an Irish landowner, John Dowling. He later moved to Buenos Aires where he worked for The Southern Cross, an Irish-Argentine newspaper, and published stories under the pseudonym 'Che Buono'. He subsequently became the proprietor of the newspaper and its success allowed him to acquire properties in the city and suburbs of Buenos Aires. He corresponded with leading Irish nationalists, setting up a branch of the Gaelic League in Argentina and clearing some of its debts in 1903. William and Annie decided to return to Derrinlough with their young family in 1902 and continuing with his nationalist outlook, William enrolled their son Eamonn in Pearse's St Enda's school.
In 1907 he published his famous volume 'Rambles in Éirinn' based on his bicycling trips around Ireland.