Top of the morning to ya! We are celebrating the Irish diaspora on this St. Paddys Day by remembering the brave soldiers of St. Patricks Battalion in the Mexican American War. St. Patricks Battalion was a multi-racial unit comprised mostly of recent Irish immigrants who defected from the slave holding army of the United States and fought with the people of Mexico against the U.S. invasion.  On part one we go back to Ireland in the 1800's to learn about the conditions that produced these soldiers and shaped their solidarities. Subscribe on Patreon to get access to part 2 where we cross the Atlantic and go to war with the ugly ideology of manifest destiny. 

**Trigger Warning*** this episode includes descriptions of emaciation and hunger in the context of famine

This episode, as always, was beautifully produced by our very own Isaac Specktor 

This episode features a rendition of "Skibbereen" by Irish-American piper Jim McKenna. Named after a town in County Cork, the lyrics for this Irish folk song follow a conversation wherein a father details to his son why they were forced to leave Skibbereen, due to famine, eviction and rebellion.

For an in depth look at Famine in the late British Empire check out Mike Davis’ book Late Victorian Holocausts