Visit by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to the Choctaw Nation
News
12 March 2018
Visit by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to the Choctaw Nation, Durant, Oklahoma 12 March 2018
On Monday 12 March 2018, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was honoured to commemorate and thank Chief Gary Batton and the Choctaw people for their kindness to Ireland during Ireland’s Great Famine in 1847. The Taoiseach attended a beautiful ceremony in Durant, Oklahoma to formally recognise the solidarity and compassion demonstrated by the Choctaw people 171 years ago during our country’s darkest hour.
Lillie Roberts of the School of Choctaw Language gave a moving account of how the Choctaw people came to the aid of Ireland in 1847 with very their generous donation of $170 (equivalent of $4,400 today) just over a decade after the Choctaw people endured the Trail of Tears.
Introducing the Taoiseach, Chief Batton said: “We have shared a similar history of tragedy, courage and strength.” During his address, the Taoiseach said that “our ancestors were joined together in a time of tragedy; our descendants will be united by a spirit of hope”. To celebrate contemporary Irish-Choctaw ties, the Taoiseach was delighted to announce the launch of a new scholarship program to enable Choctaw students to study in Ireland.
Both Irish and Choctaw heritage and culture were displayed and enjoyed during the ceremony. The Taoiseach presented Chief Batton with a hurley stick and a bodhrán from Ireland. The Taoiseach received a flute and a set of stickball sticks – and to the delight of the guests present – he attempted the centuries-old game of stickball and he was good at it!
The Taoiseach was also very pleased that Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, who has strong Irish connections, attended the event and they also had an opportunity to meet, along with Chief Batton, prior to the ceremony.
