Political Discussion, Music and Comradeship

By Lynda Walker, in Unity, CPI newspaper, July 2009

The George Brown Memorial weekend took place in Inistioge, County Kilkenny last weekend.

This was the second year that the fighters against the Spanish Anti-Fascist War were remembered, and it was a great success. The speakers included Manus O’Riordon, who paid tribute to Jack James Larkin Jones, and Harry Owens paid tribute to Bob Doyle, both Jack and Bob were at the event last year for the unveiling of the plaque to George Brown, and sadly they have both died this year.

The highlight of the event was the speech by the Cuban Ambassador, Noel Carrillo marking the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The ambassador spoke about the successes and problems of the Cuban people and he was given a warm reception by the audience. The ambassador noted in particular that the changes overall in Latin America marked a new phase in Cuban politics. When asked about the election of President Obama, he said that there were no great changes there, certainly they have gone back to Clinton times allowing Americans to send money to their relatives in Cuba, and allowing them to visit their relatives more often, but what is so unusual about that? The Obama administration have not dismantled and evacuated Guantanamo, they have not ended the blockade and they continue to imprison five Cuban men who were defending their country against terrorism, and they refuse to allow two of their wives to visit them in prison. More recently the US court decided not to review the case of the Cuban Five.

Later in the day the Ambassador planted an olive tree in Woodstock Park. The beautiful village of Inistioge was alive with political discussion, music, and comradeship. Graigamanor brass band played great music and finished with the “International”. The organising committee hope to make this an annual event.