DESCRIPTION:
In 1846, thousands of Irish immigrants joined the US army and were sent to invade Mexico.

Dubious about why they were fighting a Catholic country, and fed up with mistreatment from their Anglo-Protestant officers, hundreds of Irish deserted and joined forces with Mexico. They were lead by John Riley of Galway, Ireland. They called themselves the St. Patrick's Battalion...the San Patricios.

Toward the end of the two-year conflict, 50 San Patricios were sentenced to be hanged as traitors. Many Americans regard these men as traitors, but Mexicans see them as heroes, honoring them every Sept. 12.

In 1993, the Irish began their own ceremony to honor the St. Patrick's Battalion in Clifden, Galway, Riley's hometown.