In the Mexican-American war of 1846-48, there was a Mexican artillery batallion called St. Patrick's Batallion, led by Irishman John Riley and comprising mainly Irish Catholic soldiers, who had often defected from the US army. After losing the battle of Churubusco, they were subjected to the largest mass execution in US history.
Apparently there was a commemorative stamp issued in Ireland in 1997 but I don't remember that at all.
I learned this today while watching a youtube video of Mexico v Ireland in WC 1994, and there was a comment under the video from a Mexican (I presume) saying Mexico should have let Ireland win because of this batallion.
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