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  • Fighting 69th Irish regiment

    New York Mayor unveils Sligo monument
    RTE News
    22 August 2006 15:36

    The Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, has unveiled a monument in Ballymote in Co Sligo dedicated to the US Army's Fighting 69th Irish regiment.

    Mr Bloomberg was welcomed by members of the local community and reviewed an army guard of honour.

    The monument also honours Brigadier General Michael Corcoran, a local man who commanded the regiment during the US Civil War.

    A small group of anti-war campaigners staged a demonstration in the town during the ceremony.

    The monument incorporates steel beams taken from the debris of New York's Twin Towers.

    Ahead of today's event, the chairman of the committee which erected the monument, Fine Gael TD John Perry, said the town was honoured that Mr Bloomberg had accepted the invitation.

    He said Mr Bloomberg was an extraordinary friend to New York's Irish community and it was entirely appropriate that he should unveil the monument.

    However, the Sligo Anti-War Group said it was opposed to the visit because of Mr Bloomberg's endorsement of Israel's aggression in Lebanon and because of his failure to offer his sympathy to the Lebanese people.

    Spokesman Tim Mulcahy said a prominent Irish-American politician of the stature of Ted Kennedy should have been invited to perform the ceremony.

  • #2
    Does ted Kennedy have stature any more?


    Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

    Comment


    • #3
      He's certainly "statuesque", in a fat bastard kind of way.

      He's also a tosser of the highest order and he is certainly no friend to the Irish in the US, despite what his PR says.
      No-one, I think, is in my tree...

      Comment


      • #4
        It is interesting to note that the 69th was armed with a musket unlike other units in the Union army who were armed with the Springfield rifle which had an effective range of 500 yards.The musket with which the Irish were armed was really a glorified blunderbuss with a range of no more than 100 yards.In other words the Irish had no other alternative but to come to close quaters with the confederates,This led to appalling high casualties among the Irish brigade.
        One of the most tragic episodes was at Fredericksburg where the Irish brigade attacked a confederate position on Maryes Heights.They advanced over open ground into a continious hale of fire.One of the rebel units firing on them was Irish,It is said that the brigade desplayed such courage that the rebels actually cheered them while firing on them

        Comment


        • #5


          Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

          Comment


          • #6

            Title: Sons of Erin
            69th N.Y.V., Battle of Antietam
            September 17, 1862
            Artist: Don Troiani

            September 17,1862, Sharpsburg, Maryland. Father Corby gives absolution in front of the 69th New York.





            Title: Brothers of Ireland
            Battle of Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862
            Artist: Don Troiani

            June 27,1862 , the Ninth Massachusetts volunteers had already engaged in hours of vicious fighting with a Confederate army at Gaine's Mill. After a lull in the fighting, the stillness was broken by a vigorous Southern assault as the rest of the Union forces melted away, leaving the ninth nearly alone. Just then the 69th New York Volunteers came dashing in; firing ceased and the day was saved.





            Title: New York's Bravest
            The Firemen and the Irishmen at the Battle of Bull Run
            July 21, 1861
            Artist: Don Troiani

            New York's Bravest depicts the 69th N.Y.S.M. and the 11th N.Y. Fire Zouaves recapturing the 69th's flag at 1st Manassas. No regiments fought with more courage than the Firemen and the Irishmen at 1st Bull Run on the steamy morning of July 21, 1861.





            Title: Garryowen
            The Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg, December 12, 1862
            Artist: Don Troiani

            Fredericksburg December 12, 1862 at quick march, the men of the Irish Brigade cross the Rappahannock River into the town of Fredericksburg to meet their fate at the calamitous forthcoming battle. As they cross, passing generals Meagher and Hancock, the band strikes up the jaunty Irish tune Garryowen.





            CLEAR THE WAY.

            The 28th Massachusetts Regiment of the Irish Brigade attacks Marye's Heights at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va. 1862.
            Last edited by Guest; 11 September 2006, 04:06.

            "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."


            Marcus Aurelius Roman Emperor (161 to 180 A.D.)

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            • #7
              The Irish seem to fight better for other counties.......
              Facts are meaningless - you could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!

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              • #8
                They never had to fight for their own.


                Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                Comment


                • #9
                  War of Independance and Civil War (Irish)

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                  • #10
                    Darksaga
                    The outstanding performance of the Irish brigades in France,Spain and the US was due to the fact that they were part of a professional regular army.Here in Ireland the country was bereft of military leadership after the flight of the Earls.Rebellions here were no more that peasant uprisings poorly led and equiped with no chance of success.

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