Hello to all the Irish people. Do you learn in Ireland about St Patrick batallion? They are basically heroes for us in Mexico

30 comments

  1. St Patrick batallion was a Batallion formed by Irish and other defectors of the American army. They decided to defend Mexico against the Americans and many of them died. Their leader was John Riley

  3. The plate says: “In the memory of the Irish soldiers of the heroic St Patrick Batallion. Martyrs who gave their life for the freedom of Mexico during the North American invasion of 1847.”

    The first name says: Captain John O’Riley. Then the names of all the other Batallion’s members.

  10. I have heard of them although they didn’t teach about them in school or anything. I think they were artillery. Apparently there’s a story that they were besieged in a fort by the American army and as they had switched sides they knew if they were caught they would be executed. So everytime a Mexican soldier would run up onto the ramparts waving a white flag someone from the St Patrick’s battalion would shoot them and keep fighting.

  11. I like it when I get a reminder of why pretty much everyone in the world likes us. If there is any luck o’ the Irish, then it’s our uncanny ability to make friends when overseas, certain sportspeople notwithstanding

  12. Yes. They are celebrated every year at the Clifden Arts Festival too. Big part of the parade. The Mexican Ambassador is usually in attendance.

  13. I never heard of them myself, but this may explain why everyone in Mexico was really friendly to me when I was there on holidays a few years back. Everytime I said I was from Ireland, i was met with a massive smile and a handshake. Not to say they where unfriendly before that (People in Mexico are seriously brilliant craic) but it ramped up the second Ireland was menioned.

    Síocháin agus grá to my Mexican hermanos (PS: I miss morning chilaquiles alot!)

  17. Yes, we learn about it, but the general Irish population is blissfully unaware of much of their history.

    Another fascinating character, is Sir Richard Church, a Corkman who is a national hero in Greece and was commander of their armed forces during their war for independence from the Ottomans.

  27. Also you will NEVER meet an “O Brien” in South or Central America……the name officially became “Oberon” more than a century ago. Also I remember working with 2 brother’s from Austria, born and bred. The “O Hara’s” as well as a Russian surname of “Mulligan”.

  30. What is always left out of the history of the US is that the Irish were the first slaves brought to the US. They were always looked down upon and abused. This is what led them to defect to Mexico. Why fight for a country that hates you, against a country that would embrace you?

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