The Croí na hEireann Festival Committee recently made a presentation to the Jadotville Tigers at IUNVA Hall after they were named as Grand Marshals for this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 20. Left to right, Joe O’Kane (Jadotville) Paddy Hogan (Jadotville) John Henson, Festival Chairperson, John Gorman (Jadotville) , Marie Leahy, Festival Secretary, Jackie McKervey, IUNVA, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council Cllr Frankie Keena, also festival Treasurer, Pat Fitzpatrick, Parade Safety Marshal and Dermot McElwaine, Parade Safety Officer.

Jadotville heroes set to lead Athlone St Patrick's Day Parade

Deirdre Verney

Published: Thu 3 Mar 2022, 4:07 PM

Last updated: Thu 3 Mar 2022, 4:32 PM

Survivors of the Siege of Jadotville will be honoured this year as the Grand Marshals of the Croí na hEireann St Patrick's Day Parade in Athlone.

The Jadotville heroes will lead the St Patrick's Day Parade, taking place this year on Sunday, March 20, rather than on the national holiday itself, to conclude the five-day festival in style.

Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Frankie Keena, who is also the festival treasurer, said it is vital that every opportunity is grasped to thank and honour these men. He is delighted that as Grand Marshals, it will give the people of Athlone another chance to salute these men.

"We are delighted to be able to honour this incredible group of men in this manner and we feel it is the least we could do to recognise and applaud their courage all those years ago,” said festival chairperson, John Henson.

Back in 1961, close to 160 Irish soldiers were sent to protect the mining town of Jadotville in the Congo. Not long after their arrival, they were attacked by between three and five thousand troops from Katanganese Army, supported by French and Belgian mercenaries.

Despite being totally outnumbered, outgunned and surrounded, the Irish troops defended their positions for five days,. They also knocked out enemy artillery and mortar positions. With no food, water or ammunition left, a ceasefire was negotiated at the enemy's request.

After seven days in captivity, their release was negotiated, and eventually, they returned to Athlone and surrounding areas. The joy and celebration of their return soon changed as a whispering campaign began with words like 'coward' , 'white flag' and 'surrender' being bandied about, a statement from the festival committee explained.

The defensive tactics employed by the Commanding Officer Comdt Quinlan and the bravery and loyalty of the Irish soldiers in Jadotville was recognised internationally but back in Athlone and other Midland towns, the reputations of these warriors was denigrated.

The courage and resilience of the trenches was evident again when people like John Gorman, who was just 17 in Jadotville, and a few others stepped forward to challenge the system in a long-running campaign to ensure they received due recognition.

Many of the soldiers involved were from Athlone. Custume Barracks was the site for both the memorial plaque to the men of 'A' Company, unveiled in 2005 and the presentation of An Bonn Jadotville, the Jadotville medal, which was awarded to the veterans and their families in 2017.

Unfortunately, the year of the 60th anniversary (2021) of the battle of Jadotville passed without the Government delivering on its pledge to hold a State event commemorating a major milestone.

“It is the festival's hope that the men present at the parade will receive, on their own behalf and that of their comrades, the flag-waving, cheers, bands playing and applause from the people of our town that they should have received over 60 years ago,” Mr Henson concluded.