Na San Patricios

This is the third music video from "Hy Brasil, Songs of the Irish in Latin America." I shot it on my ramblings through Mexico this winter. The locations on film are-Oaxaca, Chiapas, Mexico City & Monterrey. As well as filming iconic scenery, I shot sites associated with the San Patricio Battalion (one of which I had visited on a previous expedition, during the filming of Saol John Riley). Saol John Riley was broadcast on TG4 (the Irish language T.V. station) back in 2010. It was an interesting feeling to be travelling 10 years later to the same location, I must say, thinking back on those days of yore, it feels like I was a different person way back then. Time changes everything!

Na San Patricios is in Irish, I've put Spanish subtitles with this video, hoping to disseminate it in the Latin American world. I also hope to sing a Spanish version of the song, more on that soon in another cartoon. 

From a Country of Clouds

The only instrumental track on 'Hy Brasil, Songs of the Irish in Latin America' is 'Country of Clouds.' It is an illusory piece that I have been tinkering with for many's the year, the meat of it only appeared over the last twelve months, but the bones were rattling around my noggin with a decade. For me, Country of Clouds is first and foremost some music that I imagined, but, in another way, it tells of the integration of the Irish into the Spanish and Latin-American world. It pays homage to those who were subsumed and also in another less quantifiable way alludes to those native peoples who integrated those large colonising forces in Mexico and survived the Spanish conquest. Country of Clouds could also be construed as Ireland, which has been plundered too by these same colonial conquests. Much like the interplay of clouds it is impossible to unravel and the forces at play continue to collide and interweave today.

While in Oaxaca, in southern Mexico (coincidentally, with a book called 'Invention of Clouds' in hand) I began forming the idea for these nebulous ramblings! For many years I've been singing the song 'Canción Mixteca,' a Mexican ballad, popularised by Ry Cooder and the film 'Paris, Texas' in the English speaking world. Heres a translation of the lyrics from Spanish.

 "How far I am from the land where I was born, immense nostalgia invades my thoughts, oh to see me so alone and crestfallen, like a leaf gone with the wind, I could cry, I would die of grief. Country of Sun, I breathe to see you, now so far from me, I live without light, without love." 

While I sing this song, I've been singing along with it the Irish ballad "Love is Teasing" (which I learned from my father). Though it seems unrelated, it somehow evokes a similar sadness as 'Canción Mixteca.' 'Love is Teasing' begins-

'I left my father, I left my mother, I left my friends and relations too, I left all my brave companions, I left them all for to follow you.'

In Oaxaca, I learned of the Mixtec people from whom 'Canción Mixteca' gets its name. This ethnic group are spread from Puebla to those Mixtecos de la costa in Oaxaca and Guerrero. Mixtec means 'people of the clouds.' Having spent a few busy weeks in Oaxaca, I set off for the coast. Our bus weaved on and up the mountains over San Gabriel, Mixtepec, to finally trundle down to Puerto Escondido, our final destination, nestled cosily by the Pacific ocean. Mixtepec means 'hill of clouds' and that hill is hundreds of metres higher than our own lofty Carrantouhil, which certainly will never be reached by bus!

The footage for the music video to 'Country of Clouds' was taken at various parades and celebrations-one in Mexico City (at the 'Day of the Dead'), another in Bocarient, Spain (at Moros y Cristianos) and finally at 'White Nights' in the imperial city of St. Petersburg, Russia. In one last nod at trying to draw something concrete from clouds, one of my favourite novels 'Cloud Atlas' (by west Cork based English author, David Mitchell) is a beautiful paean to all these collisions of seemingly unrelated forces!

What grand tapestry is God weaving? We have no idea, only that it has poignancy, beauty and horror, often equal measure. All these elusive strands weave in and out of one another, their significance cannot be grasped, and the threads though common and interlaced, finally disperse and find another form.

Songs from Cerro Gordo

The Battle of Cerro Gordo, 1847

In 2009 while filming "Saol John Riley" we visited Carlota Jacomé in her village, where, in April 1847, "the battle of Cerro Gordo" took place. Carlota is a local poet and singer, she sang her song about the San Patricios for us and I sang the Irish language version of my own song "Pa' Los Del San Patricio."



Carlota sings her song in Spanish, here is a transcription of the video in English, with the original Spanish afterwards.

I Carlota Jacomé, will sing this song of my own inspiration, words and music, concerning the Irish of the San Patricio Battalion.

This song that I have begun, I sing with emotion,
it concerns the terrible tragedy of the San Patricio's Battalion.
They were valiant men of pure heart,
to defend their rights and their people they joined the battalion,

They took away their means of living in Ireland,
Because of that they had to leave,
They came as immigrants among the Americans
they soon came to the Federal District of Mexico
along with a cause they had come to hate,

They had many battles because they were men of morals,
one of those was in the city of Monterrey,
they excelled in all the battles they were part of,
they had another battle in the city of Saltillo,

Of the few that I know, that I have in my list,
they fought again in the battle of Buena Vista.
when I start to think I bring it to mind and remember-
they had another battle with the men of Santa Ana
in the village of Cerro Gordo.

A date that will never be forgotten, I will always keep it in my mind-
the tenth of September in the 19th century in the year of 47.
They fought in Churubusco also at Chapultepec
with some Mexicans also at the square of San Angél.

Without cowardice, although they lost their lives,
they fought with their skill, valor and bravery.
In San Jacinto square there they were sacrificed,
these Americans without conscience and without feeling they hung them,

The pain goes right to my heart upon my soul,
what bad luck these 50 immigrants had from the land of Ireland.
We will always remember them and keep them in our history,
we will never forget, that God my keep them with him in his glory.

"Since I am not educated I know nothing of geography,
to my creator I recommend and I tell him with a guarantee,
Carlota Jacomé was the author of this ditty,
which is both a poem and poetry."

Yo Carlota Jacomé Marin, voy a cantarles este cantico en poema de mi propia inspiración, letra y música de los irlandeses del batallón san patricio

Les canto con sentimiento este canto que yo inicio,
de esta terrible tragedia del batallón San Patricio,
eran hombres muy valientes pero de buen corazón,
por defender sus derechos y por defender sus gentes
Se unieron al batallón.

Les quitaron sus recursos que tenían para vivir
por eso de allá de Irlanda se tuvieron que salir.
Se fueron como inmigrantes con los estadounidenses,
después se fueron de allí pa’ Distrito Federal

y también por esa causa los empezaron a odiar
Tuvieron varias batallas por que eran hombres de ley,
tuvieron una batalla en ciudad de Monterrey.
Las batallas que tuvieron en todas se dieron brillo,

Tuvieron otra batalla en la ciudad de Saltillo.
De las pocas que yo sé algunas tengo en mi lista,
tuvieron otra batalla en el pueblo Buena Vista,
cuando me pongo a pensar yo lo conservo y lo otorgo.

Tuvieron otra batalla con la gente de Santa Ana,
En el pueblo Cerro Gordo
Fecha tan inolvidable siempre la traigo en mi mente
en ese diez de septiembre del año 1800 del año 47.

lucharon en Churubusco también en Chapultepec,
con algunos mexicanos también en Plaza San Ángel.
Sin sentir la cobardía pero aunque perdieron sus vidas,
lucharon con su talento con valor y valentía.

En La Plaza San Jacinto allí los sacrificaron,
esos estadounidenses sin consciencia y sin dolor
allí también los horcaron.
Me duele hasta el corazón también me duele hasta el alma,
la suerte que les toco estos cincuenta inmigrantes,
de allá de tierra de Irlanda.

Siempre los recordaremos quedaron en nuestra historia
nunca los olvidaremos que Dios los tenga en su gloría.

Como nunca me ilustré no entiendo de geografía,
Al creador me encomendé le digo con garantía,
Carlota Jacomé fue la autora de este cantico,
que fue poema y fue poesía.

Viva Los San Patricios!

On the day that is in it, that being St Patrick's day, here's to the called Saol John Riley. My role was that of presenter-I followed the story of the leader of that bold Mexican brigade, John Riley, from famine torn Connemara to the Mexican American War of 1847. The song "Pa' Los del San Patricio" appeared on my first album Go raibh míle maith agat Séan Ó Garbhí, as ucht an cabhair a thug tú dom chun aistriúchán breá bríomhar a dhéanamh air ón leagan Bhéarla! I must try my hand at a Spanish version of the song too, somewhere further down the road!

Charlie O' Brien · Na San Patricios

Na San Patricios

Daichead a seacht i bhfad ró dhian,

Cailleadh anso iad ‘s i bhfad i gcéin,

Cailleadh iad i ngleanntá glasa na hÉireann

is crochadar ar cláracha Mheicsiceo

Dhá scór fearaibh ag feitheamh le bás

Sínte ar chroch ba thrua a gcás,

Le teas millteanach an mhéan lae

Thugadar leo go bhflaitheas dé.

Daichead a seacht i bhfad ró chrua

Cos ar bholg gan stad, gan suan,

Ó Vera Cruz le bratach in airde

Baileadar go cróga le céile.

Naomh Pádraig ‘s a cros

‘s iomaí fear a déag faoin bhreatach glas,

Lámh ar lámh le chéile,

Gach beachaint á réabadh.

Os cionn scamaill gan céilúir n-éan

General Lee lena airm féin

Cuireadh ruaig ar airm Valencia

Ach d-éalaíomar go caithair Mheicsiceo.

I ngort arbhar bhí na poncán clúdaithe

Thit siad ar an dtalamh lenár gunaí morá,

Lámh ar lámh le chéile,

gach beachaint á reabadh.

Luascadh an bhreatach bán trí uaire

Fós gearr Riley é síos gan bac air,

Géill siad faraor in ísle brí

i lochán dá fhuil féinig.

An Cruit, Naomh Padraig, ‘s an cros

“Éireann go brách” ar bhreatach glas,

Go dilís le chéile ‘s gunaí a pléascadh,

Gach beachaint á reabadh.

Dhá scór fearaibh ag feitheamh le bás

Sínte ar chroch ba thrua a gcás,

Le teas millteanach an mhéan lae

Thugadar leo go bhflaitheas dé.

Here's the English language version of the song, an outake from Saol John Riley. The song was filmed in Clifden, Ireland in 2009.

Pa’ Los Del San Patricio

47 too long a year, men died in chains men died in fear

some were lost under Irish sky and some on Mexico’s fields were hung.

The gallows there 14 feet high two score men condemned to die

hung at noon in scorching heat, three hours they waited bound hand and feet. 

47 too dark a year, men shook their chains and fell in fear

from Vera Cruz a flag unfurled many men rallied round it.

A Mexican eagle and a Celtic cross under the green flag men were lost

shot down as soldiers, hung as slaves their cruel fate a shallow grave.

Birds wouldn’t cross the Pedragal through it General Lee he carved a path

Valencia’s army were routed there Churubusco’s fate was calling.

The Yankees tumbled through high corn at Churubusco we shot them down 

Mexican guns they soon gave out with bayonets we joined the slaughter.

Three times the white flag swung round three times O’Riley pulled it down 

when blood ran down into the sand only then did they surrender. 

The Mexican eagle and a Celtic cross under the green flag men were lost

Shot down as soldiers, hung as slaves their cruel fate a shallow grave. 

The gallows there 14 feet high two score men condemned to die

Hung at noon in scorching heat, three hours they waited bound hand and feet.

From Mexico to the MacGillycuddy Reeks

Last weekend, I organized a series of gigs for the traditional Mexican band-Tacumba son Jaracho. The band came over to Ireland from Vera Cruz, Mexico, and were playing a series of gigs up in Galway for the "San Patricio Commemoration" up in Clifden. They played three Jarana guitars, all three sang, and Alfonzo the man on the left below, danced a style of dance quite similar to our own sean nós dancing tradition.  Alfonzo bought some clogs up in Galway for flaking the floor before coming down to Kerry! Their first gig down south was (appropriately!) in a Mexican restaurant in Killarney town-Casita Mexicana. Their next port of call was Courtney's Bar-a hop, skip, and a jump, down the lane from the restaurant.

Tacumba Son Jaracho, live at Courtney's Bar, Killarney

I had a late gig myself in the Pay As You Please restaurant, so, I had to leave for that half way through the concert in Courtney's. In the end we all reunited for an almighty session, in the Pay as You Please, which lasted until the early morning.

The next day took the band to Killorglan, and the Sol y Sombra, which has been lovingly converted from a protestant church to a bar, restaurant, and music venue. The series of gigs was a great success, and I, for one, enjoyed them thoroughly. 

Pa' Los Del San Patricio

2 years ago I was up in Clifden, Connemara, for their annual commemoration of the San Patricio Battalion. The leader of the San Patricio's hailed from the town, his name was John Riely. As part of the commemoration I sang "Pa' Los Del San Patricio."  That song formed part of a documentary which I presented for TG4 entitled-"Saol Riely."  The documentary was shot in Ireland, and Mexico, in 2009, and 2010. The song was written by myself in Glenbeigh, County Kerry, around 2001. It's mad to think how writing that song brought me all the way from South Kerry to Central Mexico, the butterfly flaps his wings and all that malarky!

Saol Riely

A T.V. documentary I was working on last year was just aired yesterday. The documentary was produced by Kieran Conncannon, and presented by myself. The programme concerns the life and times of John Riely-leader of the infamous San Patricio Batallion. We had a screening of the programme yesterday in the Pay as You Please Restaurant here in Killarney. There was a great turnout and we were well plied with mighty food and drink. The programme will be repeated on TG4 at 23.30 on Wednesday. You can view it on the net here for the next few weeks. The programme is to be found in the "faisnéis" section of the TG4 player, on the link provided. The title of the documentary means - the life of Riely - this is a wry take on the expression; "the life of Riely." The wry, tongue in cheek nature of the documentary's title, will quickly be gleamed from the sad but heroic nature of the story. Riely's life was far from charmed, but rich in depth and colour.

"Pay as You Please" restaurant Killarney

To Cross the Rio Grande

166 years ago this April, John Riley, leader of the subsequent "San Patricio Battalion" crossed the Rio Grande. He crossed those waters just before the outbreak of war between Mexico and the U.S.A.
Riley was deserting the U.S. army and joining up with the Mexican. It's amazing to wonder what led him to that decision. Was it the rumblings of fellow Irish soldiers fed up of ill-treatment and discrimination in the ranks of Uncle Sam? Was it the sound of the church bells over the river in Matamoros, calling the faithful to the same Latin mass he would have heard at home in Clifden, Ireland? Or was it the sight of some senorita washing her hair by the banks of the river? Were her flowing locks the final straw, sending him racing down to river and over to Mexico? Was he alone? Did he wade into the flowing river and swim across? Or had he the luxury of a boat?
What we do know is that he became a leading figure in the conflict that was to come, that being the U.S. - Mexican War of 1847. It is known in Mexico as "el guerra del 47." The Mexican nation lost this war and half of their territory. As the U.S. army flooded through Mexico City, many Irishmen stood waiting at gallows outside the city. They had been waiting there since early morning, they waited for the American flag to go up over Chapultapec Castle--the sign for the cart to be literally pulled from under them. This was part of a series of hangings which saw the deaths of 49 men of the San Patricio Battalion, marking the biggest public execution in U.S. military history. The San Patricio's ranks, although distinctly and predominantly Irish, contained men of other ethnicities, including many Germans. The soldiers' common Catholic religion galvanised their brotherhood. Most, but not all, of the San Patricios had defected from the U.S. army--an army to whom they felt they owed no allegiance. They fought in Mexican Ranks 'til the bitter end.

I took this photo at the commemoration last year in San Ángel, Mexico City. San Ángel is where some of the hangings took place. The plaque in the background lists the names of the San Patricios who died for Mexico. The eagle is a symbol of Mexico.

I was in Mexico City last September as part of a documentary by Kieran Concannon, for Tg4 (the Irish language T.V. Station). The documentary traces the story of John Riley from Ireland to Mexico. It is interwoven with songs inspired by John Riley and the San Patricios, one of which is my own song, "Pa' Los Del San Patricio." Our visit to Mexico coincided with the commemoration at San Ángel. 18 of the San Patricios were hung in the square where the commemoration takes place. The documentary is narrated and presented by myself and will be broadcast in September to coincide with the commemoration in Mexico City. A ceremony also takes place in Clifden, Ireland, the place of Riley's birth.


Above is the track "Pa' Los Del San Patricio" from my first CD "Songs From an Outpost."


 
It was really heartening to see the respect and honour with which the San Patricios are held in Mexico. The last battle of the San Patricios took place by the convent of Churubusco. All around that area the Mexican government pays homage to "the Irish Martyrs."  Both the photos to the left were taken in the Vicinity of San Patricio Plaza. The first is "Irish Martyr's Street." The second is a plaque to John Riley, untouched by the mad graffiti surrounding it.


In the center of the Plaza of San Ángel, there are park benches with this inscription: "Alvaro Obregon," which is the name of a former president of Mexico, that name is now a city municipality. Many people don't realise that Irish names were "hispanicized" in Spanish speaking countries just like the Anglicisation of Irish surnames in Britain and America. So "Ó Brian" became "Obregon." Funnily enough I used this ruse myself while buying a train ticket for Vera Cruz, in Mexico City. Instead of calling myself Charlie O' Brien (and looking on at the tellers inevitable doleful expression as she tried to write it down), I told them my name was Carlito Obregon, and lo and behold no need for a lengthy spelling lesson. She had it in one and I was on my way to Vera Cruz!

                                              This is the "Obregon" seat in the Plaza of San Ángel, Mexico City.     

  

Above is a picture of the cathedral in Vera Cruz. They are currently renovating the church--note the little man on the dome on the left.
 
Vera Cruz is where John Riley was eventually released from the service of the Mexican Army. We visited the cathedral there, where we waited patiently for the Padre, who was the only person authorised to show us the cathedral's death records. It has long been speculated where and how John Riley died. There are many theories, one of which was that he died in Vera Cruz, not long after being discharged from the army. The records in Vera Cruz seem to confirm this.

The Padre's secretary, Miriam, is shown above with the records which contain John Riley's death cert. She is pointing his name out to me on the page. Kieran, the director of the documentary is in the foreground. The photo was taken by Cliona Maher, an Irishwoman who is living in Vera Cruz for years. She was extremely helpful to us in our travels!

The records taken down by the priest in 1850, and shown by Miriam in the photo above, record: "In the H. [Heroic] city of Veracruz, on the thirty first of August of eighteen hundred and fifty, I, Don Ignacio Jose Jimenez, curate of the parish church of the Assumption of Our Lady, buried in the general cemetery the body of Juan Reley, of forty five years of age, a native of Ireland, unmarried, parents unknown; died as a result of drunkenness, without sacraments, and I signed it."

While in Vera Cruz, we visited a beautiful Spanish Fortress called San Juan de Ulua. It dates to 1565. Wandering around the ruins we met this fisherman who had just netted this mighty fish.

When we think of history, we think of dates, actions defined, outcomes, not the slow passage of time. I think of John Riley in the weeks leading up to his death, lounging pensively in some bar in Vera Cruz, gazing out at the sea. I imagine his long hair covering his face and the two D letters that were seared into it by the Yankees, as punishment for desertion. Perhaps, to clear his head, he took a walk down by the dockside? I see him meeting with some fisherman, having a chat, maybe his dark mood lifting for a moment. Did he imagine his future in Ireland as he gazed out at the horizon? Was he planning for a never reached shore in Galway?