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Howard visits US Irish Cultural Centre

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Ennis Town Councillor Mary Howard made a big hit with the Phoenix/Ennis Sister City Commission at the Phoenix Irish Cultural and Learning Centre after the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Arizona.
The parade had over 70 entries that stretched two miles. The Sonora Band that came up from Mexico was outstanding.  Los San Patricios de Arizona, which is an organisation that supports the more than 150-year-old friendship between the Irish and Mexican people, took first prize with over 20 cowboy (Chorros) horsemen and 14 costumed ladies riding sidesaddle (Escaramusa).  The American flag, led the Los San Patricios entry followed by the flag of Ireland, the flag of Mexico and then the famous Irish St Patrick Battalion flag of the Mexican American War of 1846.
The St Patrick’s Battalion Commander, John Riley, was born in Galway and the St Patrick’s Battalion is celebrated annually in Galway, Ireland, Mexico City and now Phoenix, Arizona. They fought valiantly in Mexico over the boundary line between the two nations and ended forcibly but amicably in agreement.
The Phoenix Irish Cultural Centre was completed in 2003 and President Mary McAleese and other Irish notables have visited the centre. The ground-breaking for the Irish Library was last month and will be completed by next St Patrick’s Day, according to Norm McClelland, co-chair of the Irish Library.  Burns Library at Boston College through Dr Robert O’Neill, librarian, has donated 6,000 books to the library, which will also include poetry, music, periodicals, magazines and genealogical research access.  Dr O’Neill is consultant to the Irish Library. 
The Irish Library and the Irish Cultural Centre location have the full consent and approval of the City of Phoenix.  Both the Irish Cultural Centre, which consists of the Great Hall (An Halle Mór), the Famine Memorial (An Gorta Mór), have a courtyard map of Ireland, where anyone of Irish heritage may purchase a brick to be placed in their home county or relatives’ home county. There is also an Irish cottage that houses a gift shop and the Irish Library raised private funds for all the buildings.

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