Mexicans celebrate
the Irish soldiers
on two days,
September 12 in
honor of the
anniversary of the
first executions and
on March 17, St.
Patrick’s Day.
Numerous street
names across the
country honor their
contribution to the
Mexican cause. In
front of the Convent
of
Santa María
in Churubusco the
street is named “Mártires
Irlandeses”,
or Irish Martyrs.
50
The Mexican
government has
officially
recognized the
contribution of the
San Patricios
through official
acts of government.
In 1997, President
Zedillo held a
ceremony in honor of
the 150th
anniversary of their
executions along
with Ireland’s
ambassador. 51
On Thursday, October
28, 2002 the LVII
Mexican Congress
held a ceremony
where the
inscription
“Defensores de la
Patria 1846-1848 y
Batallón de San
Patricio” or
“Defenders of the
Fatherland 1846-1848
and the San Patricio
Battalion” was
inscribed in gold
letters on the Wall
of Honor in the
Chambers of the
Congress. Three
hundred and
ninety-four Mexican
congressmen, along
with Irish
Ambassador to
Mexico, Art Agnew,
attended the
ceremony recognizing
the sacrifices made
by the young Irish
soldiers. 52
In
1959, a plaque was
erected in Mexico
City commemorating
the Irish Heroes of
Mexico. 53
The inscription of
the plaque reads,
“To the memory of
Captain John Riley
of the Clifden area,
founder and leader
of the Saint
Patrick’s Battalion
and those men under
his command who gave
their lives for
Mexico during the
U.S.-Mexican War of
1846-1848.” 54
Mexican sculptor,
Lorenzo Rafael,
designed the plaque
that is located in
San Jacinto Plaza,
now known as
Villa Obregón.
Finally, in early
September of 1997,
Ireland and Mexico
jointly released two
postage stamps in
commemoration of the
150th
Anniversary of the
San Patricio
Battalion.
In
1959, a plaque was
erected in Mexico
City commemorating
the Irish Heroes of
Mexico. 53
The inscription of
the plaque reads,
“To the memory of
Captain John Riley
of the Clifden area,
founder and leader
of the Saint
Patrick’s Battalion
and those men under
his command who gave
their lives for
Mexico during the
U.S.-Mexican War of
1846-1848.” 54
Mexican sculptor,
Lorenzo Rafael,
designed the plaque
that is located in
San Jacinto Plaza,
now known as 
