Mexico, Ireland Honor San Patricios' 150th Anniversary id BAA27555; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 01:29:59 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: Peter Urban Mexico and Ireland Join in Honoring the San Patricios This year marks the 150th anniversary of the execution of sixteen members of the San Patricio Battalion by the US government. The San Patricios were a group of mostly Irish Immigrants who deserted from the US Army during the Mexican-American War and joined the fight against America imperialism on behalf of the Mexican nation. The hundreds of soldiers who formed the Battalion fought with great courage and distinction and have been commemorated by the Mexican people since that time. President Mary Robinson hosted a commemorative ceremony in Dublin with the Mexican Ambassaor to Ireland, Daniel Dultzin, in attendance on September 10. Then, on September 12, a commemoration was held in Mexico City, hosted by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, with the Irish Ambassador attending. In addition to the two commemorations, Mexico's largest television network, Televisa broadcast Mark Day's documentary about the San Patricios on September 12 in Spanish, while the Irish National Television, RTE, broadcast the film in English on September 18. Filmmaker Mark Day is a member of the Irish Mexican Association, and his organization sent a delegation to the Mexican commemoration that included himself; Chris Mathews, author of "A Flag to Fly", a play about the San Patricios; the vice-chair of the Marin County Latino Caucus of the California Democratic Party; Pat Goggins, the Irish Mexican Associa- tion Marin County coordinator; Joan Lingren, director of the Irish Mexico Connection of San Diego; and San Francisco immigration attorneys James Mayock and Jim Byrne. Ceremonies were also held in Clifden, County Galway, Ireland; and in San Francisco, California, the Irish Republican Socialist Committees Bay Area chapter hosted a public showing of Mark Day's video at New College on September 19, accompanied by a greetings sent by the filmmaker. IRSC North American Coordinator, Peter Urban, spoke at the San Francisco event on the example set by the San Patricios for other Irish Americans and Irish activists in the US to oppose US imperialism with vigor equal to that they expend in opposition to British imperialism in Ireland. The IRSCNA hopes to show "The San Patricios" throughout the US by its various chapters in the coming months. We salute the memory of the San Patricio Battalion, and the Irish and Mexican people who continue to honor them. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcamer-09.30.97-01:30:00-24276