Galway City Council has certainly exposed a hornet’s nest by voting to allow a statue of Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara in Eyre Square in the center of Galway.
The reaction was immediate, with local multi-millionaire businessman Declan Ganley saying it was a profound mistake and would damage Ireland’s image, especially in America.
Then Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the powerful head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote to Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny asking that asking that the statue be stopped.
Ros-Lehtinen called the proposal “an outrage” in a statement to the Huffington Post.
She said, “Despite the image makeover which some try to give him, the real Che Guevara was a mass murderer and human rights abuser.
“To honor him with a monument would be an outrage, and would be a futile attempt to hide the brutal acts which he committed.”
She was joined in her criticism by fellow Congressman Mario Diaz-Balert, who also urged the Irish people not to go ahead.
If you turned the table on this and Irish leaders were requesting Cuban Americans not to erect a statue to Cromwell in, say, in Miami the response would be immediate.
It would be an immediate “mind your own business,” and not put as politely as that. And the Cubans would be right.
What statues Ireland erects is a matter for Ireland, not America and vice versa.
As the Galwegians have pointed out, Guevara’s grandmother named Lynch came from the area and Guevara himself was very taken with his Irish roots.
As to what kind of person he was, one man’s terrorist will always be another man’s freedom fighter, and we have ample evidence of that from Irish history.
Which is why if the Galway City Council voted freely to have a statue of Guevara in their main square, well, that is their business.
Any American who is offended can register that protest by not traveling there, or writing a letter.
But having two Cuban American political leaders try and force the Irish government to overturn a democratically reached decision is completely out of order.
Guevara will be a controversial figure as long as there are people around to discuss the Cuban revolution. It is thus with most revolutionaries. The Galway episode has certainly added to that discussion.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.sopa | Apr 13, 2012, 11:40 PM EDT
Here is to bogside bunny. Your email name says it all. Did it ever occur to you that your drivel embarrasses the b'jesus out of us?
sopa | Apr 13, 2012, 11:27 PM EDT
P.S. JFK doesn't and never will NEED a statue in his memory. Eyre Square be dammed. The people of Ireland who were there know what was presented to them. New Ross only lives in his words that were said in Galway.
sopa | Apr 13, 2012, 11:24 PM EDT
Addressed to Wexfordman: You are dead wrong on every point you attempted to make. Ireland stayed neutral during the whole time of WWII. The Freestate would not declare itself with the Allies. Don't try to simplify this fact. Americans would, over time, skim over this fact, (with Irish American influence) the Nazi Party was aided by the Irish in many intertwined communities. Mr. Churchill never forgave that fact. JFK entered Ireland only to absolve it. End of story.
sopa | Apr 13, 2012, 11:09 PM EDT
Go ahead, put up the statue of Che. Laugh it up fuzz nuts. Continue to pretend you know all about America and their citizens. They are a quiet bunch as they observe everything. This I know from doing business with many from all financial walks of life. You will see a decrease of business in the area. A decrease in jovial conversation. And a cold eye with a good bye. Please, my fellow Irishmen, put your thick comments to them. I believe it's time to put your words out in the open.
seanomelb | Apr 01, 2012, 07:59 PM EDT
Oh!! for a block of Kerry gold butter.
KerryGold | Apr 01, 2012, 03:18 AM EDT
This is a stupid thing to be spending our money on here in Ireland. They want us to pay a household charge for crap like this, no wonder half the country refused to pay. About time these councillors and politicians copped themselves on.
seanomelb | Mar 31, 2012, 08:13 PM EDT
kaydog is barking again what a whiner.cluideman rather a statue of the devil than any of you or kaydogs middle of the Neo-fascist right wing gutter snipes like Hannity o O'Reilly
kaydog1 | Mar 31, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT
HA HA HA, you just can't make this stuff up, you know. This will do wonders for tourism from America, at least for attracting Democrat Party tourists. May I make so bold as to suggest that to REALLY attract the Lefty American Democrats, a group statue of Che' with Barack and Michelle Obama? ALL of them are Communists with Irish ancestors. Please consider the idea.
CLUIDEMAN | Mar 31, 2012, 08:09 AM EDT
What's next, building a statue of the " Devil" in Killarney?
dibble2008 | Mar 30, 2012, 12:52 PM EDT
No american politician will tell us irish what statues to erect in our own country. Ros-Lehtinen calls it an outrage to erect the statue of Che but what about her governments mass murder of iranian and afghanistan citizens. What kind of a hypocrite is she. Che has an irish mother and we are honoured to have his statue.
wdwrkr371 | Mar 30, 2012, 11:23 AM EDT
this headline is just gutter journalism designed to have us at each others throats pitting Irish reader against American reader. Tell me it could not be worded differently. Just too contribute when I was in my twenties I read the motorcycle diaries and thought Che was a hero, I then read some more got older and realized that he may have begun a hero but became the opposite.I don't believe a statue should be erected in his honor he already has his place in history and will not be forgotten any time soon.
ciaradexy | Mar 30, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT
IrelandNorth, so youre a homophobe as well as a plank?
eiriamach | Mar 30, 2012, 07:42 AM EDT
Your intolerance is sickening, IrelandNorth. T'is a pity the public has to put up with you.
IrelandNorth | Mar 30, 2012, 06:35 AM EDT
If Ernesto 'Che' Guevara's Galwegian grandmother's name was Lynch/O'Loinsigh, are they related to the serial unionist/loyalist Gaelgoir poster on this site of the same name? Murph46! Chinese communists already own half of America. I believe new Chinese Premier Xi Peng has his eyes on Texas. Next Govenor of [five] star state - Mao Tse Tung Jnr. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Don't recall 'Che' dropping the big one on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Or incendiarising innocent Germans in Dresden like the RAF. By the way. Not sure about the photo. A bit too gay. I reckon it's really Cahir Doherty doing a gig in 'The George' (Dublin Gay Bar).
madpadd | Mar 30, 2012, 06:24 AM EDT
Erect a monument to George W Bush and then you can p everyone off. Like, who cares. Something else for the gulls to crap on.
Wexfordman | Mar 30, 2012, 05:55 AM EDT
THe people on here who are saying that Ireland helped or supported the Nazi's during WW2 are wrong. If you did a little research you would know that Ireland aided the allies in number of way including providing them with weather reports to help navy and airforce, Prevent Nazi spies getting into the north. G2 irish military intellgence worked so closely with the allies that some senior officers were rewared medals after the war by the allies. On he point about being preevented from joining the UN, that was deal done between Stalin and churchill because we stood our ground and did not get involved, funny isn't it the brits and commies workin together againest Ireland. Also a point made about no JFK statue. There is a few one being in New Ross county Wexford.
esatdigiwank | Mar 30, 2012, 05:14 AM EDT
"The Galway City Council gave the OK for this for what reason?" Hilarious. We have an avowedly leftist new President, Michael D Higgins. Galway is his backyard. Wouldn't be surprised if this was his way of kicking up mischief. He is very critical of Aerfort na Sionnaine used for transit of US troops. I don't think this statue will reach fruition.
Los Leandros | Mar 30, 2012, 04:52 AM EDT
Is the censor at work here ?. Despite the glamourised/adolescent view of Guevara, he was a cruel, psychopath. Why not go the whole hog & erect statues in honour of Pol Pot & Oliver Cromwell in Eyre Square.
DanOLoingsigh | Mar 30, 2012, 04:28 AM EDT
@joan1954 - re your query, was Ireland blackballed from UN on account of being seen as pro-Nazi? Yes, until the mid '50s...
like2tweet | Mar 30, 2012, 04:19 AM EDT
I have two words for you Michael Collins, patriot or terrorist.Che is the Cuban equivalent
GeorgeDillon | Mar 30, 2012, 03:14 AM EDT
ciaradexty: "you seem to think that if a yank has an Irish great great great great granny, then they are Irish". No I don't, you illiterate fool. Stop inventing stupidity and ascribing it to others--you produce enough nonsense of your own.
GeorgeDillon | Mar 30, 2012, 03:11 AM EDT
seanomel: "it might increase Pakistani tourism to the states". At least there's no need to increase Pakistani tourism to Ireland, the country is full of them. And they ain't goin' home!
krisdaly | Mar 30, 2012, 02:36 AM EDT
What, no statue of JFK?? Something stinks in Ireland, it smells like a rotting RED herring!!!!!!!!!!!!
bogsidebunny | Mar 30, 2012, 01:32 AM EDT
Maybe the United States should butt out if Ireland entirely. Hear that Intel, Apple, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Microsoft, Google, etc?
joan1954 | Mar 30, 2012, 12:14 AM EDT
Ah well, that is the way things crumble. If we are honest with ourselves and study the issue Che was a mass murderer but what old time communist wasn't. Look at Mao, look at Castro and Stalin. The Irish have financial problems and why is this being considered now? Someone check this out but wasn't Ireland's neutrality in WWII and its friendship with the German State the reason why it wasn't admitted at first to the UN? Somewhere I read that.
JohnnyMac | Mar 29, 2012, 11:59 PM EDT
Ah go on...tell me if they can erect a larger than life size statue of President Clinton in Ballybunion, sure what the heck would it matter if any other "odd duck" were to get a statue in Ireland. Really folks....do you think anyone really cares or would be bothered in the least. Silly stuff...lets move on to the next silly story. Cheers.
MCCOLGAN1492 | Mar 29, 2012, 11:55 PM EDT
How about a statue of Tiger O'Woods at the Irish Ryder Cup course? He is one of the few African American Natives to be financially "screwed" by a White Woman! Fact is 90% of the time it goes the other way.... Better yet, how about a statue of his 300,000,000 Million Dollar Wife, Swingin a Golf Club......
Murph46 | Mar 29, 2012, 10:47 PM EDT
Problems with a statue of whoever in Galway is but a pimple on the butt of the world.Your problem is the deep financial morass you are in that is now to be bailed out by the Chinese as Kenny has signed an agreement.You all had better learn Mandarin,cause that's what your new bosses will all be speaking,but go on write silly stories of Che in Galway.
jamthecat | Mar 29, 2012, 10:00 PM EDT
This commentary is right on the nose -- and the US SHOULD butt its nose out of what is an Irish decision. We would NOT like it if someone from Liberia demanded we remove the Washington Monument or the Jefferson Memorial because they'd both owned slaves. Nor would we tolerate anyone from Nicaragua, where hundreds if not thousands were killed during our invasion of that country, demanded Reagan International Airport be renamed since he was president at the time. We don't have a say in this, and for anyone to act like we do is ridiculous...unless you propose we invade Ireland and make it a part of our empire.
allentown | Mar 29, 2012, 09:27 PM EDT
All I know is my grand parents didn't come from Galway. So, I'll just stand outside the donnybrook and throw chairs in.
seanomelb | Mar 29, 2012, 07:40 PM EDT
if one had to make the choice better Hitler than Cromwell. Maybe we should erect a statue to Hitlers half brother at ground zero after all he fought in the U.S. army WW11.Blackstone would love that statue to an American hero.
Wexfordman | Mar 29, 2012, 06:48 PM EDT
This has not one thing to do with america. Its a statue, get over it. I think the US has more pressing problems i.e. afghanistan and the financial crisisto deal with, than what Galway County Council do . People on here complaining about Ireland by the looks of it you are not Irish at all , Unless you are Irish then its got nothing to do with you, You don't pay tax and you don't vote or speak for the people of Galway. If you don't like what we do, then don't come to Ireland. Che maybe controversial and his ideas not the nicest but let one without sin cast the first stone and that rules America out . Great country and proud people but don't forget Hiroshima and Nagasaki and vietnam.
blackstone | Mar 29, 2012, 05:53 PM EDT
What not erect a statue of Hitler while you are at it? Much of Ireland was sympathetic to the Nazi cause and Ireland provided safe haven for German war criminals. Now there'a proud legacy. Not surprising Ireland is erecting statues to Che, the mass murderer.
seanomelb | Mar 29, 2012, 05:50 PM EDT
Village idiot Georgy boy!!! I have never claimed that Che was a 3rd or 4th or a 10th generation Irishman. All I know is he deserves his statue regardless.Maybe a statue to Bin Laden at ground zero for you to edify would be nice and it might increase Pakistani tourism to the states.God knows you could do with the cash.
PiperMac52 | Mar 29, 2012, 05:49 PM EDT
Guevara was a fan of Mao and lived by those principles. Executing hundreds. I would suggest reading of his "accomplishments". He was communist through and through. Should we then erect statues of Hitler,Lenin, Pol Pot...people who via their ideology were responsible for the death of millions simply because they disagreed with their ideology? Give me a break. Any human being od conscience should protest this ludicrous idea.
clevelander | Mar 29, 2012, 05:46 PM EDT
Thank God colkelley's family left Ireland long ago. And CelticQueenUSA do Ireland a favor and please stay away.
clevelander | Mar 29, 2012, 05:41 PM EDT
Hey Neil where are those statues of Cromwell in The States? Just wondering.
borefield | Mar 29, 2012, 05:40 PM EDT
There was a statue of Lord Nelson in Dublin, for a while!
RedBranch | Mar 29, 2012, 05:35 PM EDT
Ditch Che! Raise a statue to a real Irish-American hero,...Muhammad Ali
pilib04 | Mar 29, 2012, 05:31 PM EDT
Celtic Queen USA: I'd just as soon the "Ugly Americans" didn't come to Ireland. They give American-Irish a bad name.
ciaradexy | Mar 29, 2012, 05:24 PM EDT
Pilib, he hasn't been paid a cent for that iconic picture because he didn't patent it! It would have been worth a fortune!
pilib04 | Mar 29, 2012, 05:20 PM EDT
The artist's drawing of what the memorial will look like is absolutely incredible. The best I have ever seen. What a tribute both to the Irishman Ernesto "Che"(Lynch)Guevara and also to the artist, Jim Fitzpatrick. I was only aware of Fitzpatrick's renowned Celtic art work. Had no idea he was the mastermind behind the Guevara picture.
ciaradexy | Mar 29, 2012, 04:53 PM EDT
Georgie, you seem to think that if a yank has an Irish great great great great granny, then they are Irish but somehow if Che had the same, then he'd be less Irish? Whats that all about? Well said Niallo. The answer is as obvious as the nose on peoples faces but some cant even acknowledge that.
Niall O'Dowd | Mar 29, 2012, 04:47 PM EDT
there are statues to Cromwell in america-- should the Irish government complain? or is it America's business -- the answer is obvious
GeorgeDillon | Mar 29, 2012, 04:44 PM EDT
"So George everyone else is wrong and youre right here". Of course, ciaradexy, but that's always been the case on this site. But your final sentence about "ruling out Yanks" is just more gibberish from you. Why not try to write meaningful posts rather than stupid abusive garbage?
ciaradexy | Mar 29, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT
This is where you can really tell who is Irish and who is American.
ciaradexy | Mar 29, 2012, 04:29 PM EDT
Bythe bay, you said you were irish just a few days ago. its obvious you arent. Ireland has an excellent education system which is why Canada, Australia and New Zealand have jobs fairs here. Obviously our qualifications are very highly thought of or we wouldnt get visas to work in these countries. So George everyone else is wrong and youre right here, is that what youre saying? Everyone else will tell you that Che's grandparent was Irish and not his great great great........grandparent? So that rules out most yanks here then who claim to be irish!
Murph46 | Mar 29, 2012, 04:09 PM EDT
Georgie surely you know by now ,some posters post only for their own egotistical edification,seems you named some just like that.
CelticQueenUSA | Mar 29, 2012, 03:14 PM EDT
What about if we butt out of even traveling to Ireland!!!!!
GeorgeDillon | Mar 29, 2012, 03:03 PM EDT
TheYank --" Just for the record, it wasn't Che's grandmother who came from Galway, but Patrick Lynch his great great great great grandfather." Yank, I suspect you'll have to re-post that a few more times. I think I have posted four times correcting the canard that Che's grandma was Irish, but I still see posters recycling it. Posters like seanomel, sirpeter etc. Hard to get thru to some dumbskulls.
Stiofain | Mar 29, 2012, 02:35 PM EDT
CitizenWhy: There a statue in Clifden,Galway of John Riley, commandant of The San Patricio Battalion. What is it with Galway?
89west | Mar 29, 2012, 02:23 PM EDT
The pigeons need a new roost and the drunks can do with a new loo.
edmundburke | Mar 29, 2012, 01:41 PM EDT
Democrats the world over have the right to criticize the effort to memorialize a murderous totalitarian in a democratic country. Che had only a fraction of Irish blood. Some other commenters have made a good point: why have this barely-Irish totalitarian leap frog over many other more genuine Irish who better deserve recognition? I would suggest that Ireland put up a statue of Ronald Reagan, half Irish whose pressure helped with adoption of the Ango Irish Treaty of 1985, putting Ireland on the path to the Good Friday Agreement and peace, before honoring revolutionary executioner and terrorist Che Guevara.
Murph46 | Mar 29, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT
Why not my comment-cogent ,to the point!
bensi21 | Mar 29, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
@ colkelley >> why don't you mention all the atrocities that USA have comitted to the humanity? Compared with what Che did or the IRA they did nothing.
bensi21 | Mar 29, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT
Couldn't you work out your own situations? Do you have to ask for United States help? Why worry about what USA thinks? CIA, FBI, ATF are terrorists agencies and nobody says nothing. USA is not what a lot of people think. And I get very angry when people think that USA is the promise land. Forget USA. They don't give a damn about what you do or don't do. They care about them and just them. And if any person or country does not agree with them they will try to eliminate it.
orcas06 | Mar 29, 2012, 12:48 PM EDT
The Galway City Council gave the OK for this for what reason? Why not let the people of Galway decide via a popular referendum? Would that be possible in Ireland? Seems that Niall O'Dowd might have an axe to grind in this matter. Could that be possible???
dickmac | Mar 29, 2012, 12:35 PM EDT
Americans should butt out ! BUT I would like to say something BUT I cannot put all my words on this page. BUT I can think of one more remark " stupid people do stupid things BUT reject constructive remarks".
maryosullivan | Mar 29, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT
Which Cubans is Ros-Lehtinen concerned about? The Cubans in Florida perhaps ? Her voting record proves she had no interest in helping those living in Cuba. There are enough problems in Florida to keep her busy, wonder why she doesn't care care of them instead of interfering in erection of a statue in Ireland. May I ask when has she last shown an interest in what Ireland does?
CitizenWhy | Mar 29, 2012, 12:06 PM EDT
If it does not already have one, Ireland should erect a statue to the San Patricio brigade of Mexico. Will US fanatics next demand that Mexico take down its memorials to the San Patricio brigade?
Stiofain | Mar 29, 2012, 12:02 PM EDT
Why is it only the U.S.who is upset?
Heather911 | Mar 29, 2012, 12:01 PM EDT
While I do think that America needs to stay out of Ireland's affair, I also think Ireland needs to stay out of our affair.
padraiginrua | Mar 29, 2012, 11:54 AM EDT
Raiméis
Murph46 | Mar 29, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT
I couldn't agree more ,who are we to tell Ireland what to do?Keep your 17 politicians home on St.Patrick's day,they are in our country begging for $'s.Let em get it from the Chinese!
wjb1tex | Mar 29, 2012, 11:43 AM EDT
Two Americans urging Ireland to not erect the statue is not exactly "trying to force the Irish government to overturn" the decision to build. The writer attempts to put a spin on the event to fit her own point of view.
RthrBHistCorr | Mar 29, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT
It is also rather sad that people in Ireland feel such an inferiotity complex that they feel the need to honor the children od the diaspora (and I include Commodore Barry, the 69th, etc, etc), apparently feeling that thier are no "locals" wothry of recognition.
eiriamach | Mar 29, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT
We should always distrust calls for censorship. The objections from conservative Americans about a statue to a revolutionary are attempts to censor. Why does the idea of revolution bother them so much at this point in time? Oscar Wilde gave a hint in his brilliant satire on the English aristocracy struggling to hold onto their wealth in a radically unequal society, "The Importance of Being Earnest." Wilde's Lady Bracknell asks: "Was he the victim of some revolutionary outrage? I was not aware that Mr. Bunbury was interested in social legislation.... I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate, exotic fruit. Touch it, and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious threat to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square." Cuimhnigh ar na daoine a throid ar son saoirse.
RthrBHistCorr | Mar 29, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT
What the writer of this article (in typical IrishCentral "lets make this story as controversial as possible" style) ignores is that Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is a descendant of Cuban immigrants who escaped from the attrocities of the regime brought to power and aided by Che. I woonder what the feeling in Ireland if England errected a new staute to Trevelyn? Ms Ros-Lehtinen is just as entitled (more so given the atrocities Che was personally involved with) in her outrage as the Irish American community was over Thomas Nast being included in the NJ Hall of fame (a story that IrishCentral made great capityal on flaming the embers of). The Cuban American community and their representatives are just as entitled as the Irish American community and their representative to speak out when outraged
crny925 | Mar 29, 2012, 11:05 AM EDT
Ireland should be allowed to erect this statue without American's 'butting' in, however, Ireland should learn a lesson from this and 'butt' out of American affairs!
jamieLM | Mar 29, 2012, 10:38 AM EDT
@Alicepbyrne, I'm am American who thinks there are MANY things to admire about Ireland. I don't compare Ireland to the U.S. They are 2 very different countries with their own histories, strengths, and things that need improvement. No country is perfect. I understand your defense of Ireland against Am. criticism. Each of us have the right to be proud of our country, in spite of its problems.
TheYank | Mar 29, 2012, 10:35 AM EDT
alicepbyrne,
Ireland does NOT have one of the best education systems in the world.
TheOldPerfessor | Mar 29, 2012, 10:04 AM EDT
Alicepbyrne: Bravo!
jamieLM | Mar 29, 2012, 09:59 AM EDT
The bottom line is that if the Irish of Galway want to spend their money building this statute, they can and will, regardless of any negative Am. opinions. Their town, their statute.
TheYank | Mar 29, 2012, 09:53 AM EDT
Just for the record, it wasn't Che's grandmother who came from Galway, but Patrick Lynch his great great great great grandfather.
Also, I think it would be fair to note that Cromwell last roamed this Earth in the mid 17th century & Guevara in the mid 1960s.
Overall, however, I agree that this is an issue solely for the people of Ireland, although some of the funding is supposedly coming from the Cuban government.
alicepbyrne | Mar 29, 2012, 09:51 AM EDT
Colkelley, we have one of the best educational systems in the world, we are proud of our country and don't need to put our hand on our heart and recite outdated oaths that are brainwashing in nature to prove it. We don't need to fly flags to the extreme to prove that either. And we don't have an army to go into countries and kill, maim or rape thousands illegally. I'd suggest you look at your own history on American soil.
colkelley | Mar 29, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT
You wrote, "...one man’s terrorist will always be another man’s freedom fighter." Does that include "freedom fighters" who undertake to commit mass murder after they seize power like Che? Does this mean that you will soon be erecting statues to Cromwell, nostalgic dedications honoring the English who essentially caused the potato famine, commemorative plaques honoring Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao Zedong, and Hitler? Are you going to go on proving just how patently STUPID the Irish in Ireland can be? And I suppose that the "Real IRA" - who specialize in killing unarmed men, women, and children - are also your "heroes?" I am Irish on both sides of my family (including the MacQuillens, the "Lords of Route") but you make me realize that, luckily, we got a lot smarter genetically by moving away from Ireland a LONG time ago.