On September 12, 1997, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo held
a ceremony in Mexico
City in honor of the
150th
anniversary of the
San Patricio
Battalion.
Representing
Ireland, Ambassador
Sean O’Huighinn was
also present.1
Although at least
two historical
accounts have been
written about the
Mexican Irish
soldiers, for the
most part, the
general population
of the United States
is not aware of the
Irish who fought for
Mexico during the
Mexican-American
War. Few, outside of
Mexico, have ever
heard of the Irish
soldiers who
defected from the
American lines and
bravely fought
defending Mexico
from the American
invasion. This is
the story of the
Batallón de San
Patricio. For
Mexicans, the men of
the San Patricio
Battalion will
forever be enshrined
in Mexico’s hall of
honor.
