Clifden in Connemara is to celebrate its links with Mexican history over the next five days.
Clifden native John O’Reilly formed and led the San Patricio brigade, a unit of almost 200 immigrants and expatriates who defected from the US army and fought with Mexico in the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848.
His role will be marked with a twinning with Mexico City’s borough of Coyoacan as part of Clifden 2012, the town’s founding celebrations.
Coyoacan translates as “place of coyotes”.
Clifden also hosts its 35th annual arts festival later this month.
It is the State’s longest running community arts event.
Plays from Druid Theatre’s DruidMurphy cycle and performances by the Saw Doctors, De Dannan and the Dubliners form part of the programme
The festival will be opened by President Michael D Higgins. Irish Times columnist John Waters will deliver the John Moriarty memorial lecture, while Waterboys singer Mike Scott will read from his new book.
Galway Theatre Festival’s programme was also published yesterday, with confirmation that award-winning playwright Christian O’Reilly has written a new dramatic work for the Blue Teapot Theatre Company.
The festival runs from October 1st-7th.
