CONNECTIONS BETWEEN IRELAND AND CUBA
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
While Ireland and Cuba do not have official diplomatic relations, regular contact between the two countries is maintained through meetings between the Cuban Diplomats in Britain and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. Relations between the two countries could be described as friendly, and in 1995 Ireland voted for a Cuban resolution at the UN General Assembly which demanded an end to the illegal US blockade of the island. Ireland had abstained on similar UN votes on three previous occasions. There are no plans on the part of the Government to establish official diplomatic relations with Cuba. Consequently, Cuba Support Group frequently finds itself taking on tasks which would normally be dealt with through an embassy and when people look up the Cuban embassy in the Telephone Directory they find Cuba Support Group instead! For many years Cuba has expressed its desire to establish diplomatic relations with Ireland.
PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR CUBA
For many years an Irish-Cuban Friendship Group, made up of TDs and senators, has taken an active interest in Cuban affairs. Members of this group have visited Cuba, representing either the Government or the European Parliament. Many TDs, senators and MEPs have signed petitions calling for an end to the US blockade of Cuba.
FAMOUS FAMILY TREES
Che Guevara
The grandmother of Ernesto "Che" Guevara Lynch was born in Cork and later emigrated to Argentina. Che Guevara met Fidel Castro when Castro was in exile in Mexico. He became a commander in the revolutionary army in Cuba, and after the triumph of the Revolution he became President of the National Bank. He left Cuba in 1965 to fight other revolutions, first in the Congo (now Zaire) and then in Bolivia. He was captured by Bolivian Rangers and their CIA "advisers" and the next day 8 October 1967 murdered.
SUPPORT AND FRIENSHIP ORGANISATIONS
Since the early 1980s, Irish people have participated in Cuba support and friendship organisations. Every year volunteers form Ireland travel to Cuba to participate in International Work Brigades. The Irish volunteers join the hundreds of volunteers from western Europe and the Nordic countries for three weeks, working on orange plantations or on construction projects.
Many Irish people have travelled to Cuba on study tours -a mixture of a holiday in the sun and an opportunity to see Cuba beyond the tourist trail. They visit schools, hospitals, clinics and factories and, also get to meet Cuban groups such as trade unions, women's groups, health specialists,etc.
Direct contacts have been established with organisations in Cuba such as trade unions, peace groups, women's organisations, the Communist Party etc and with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). ICAP co-ordinates with the solidarity movements throughout the world and organises the International Work Brigades.
Representatives of various organisations in Cuba have visited Ireland as guests of Cuba Support Group to engage in political activities and development education programmes. The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the Central Organisation of Cuban Trade Unions (CTC), the Communist Party (PCC) and the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) have sent delegations to Ireland to take parts in events throughout the country, raising awareness about the current situation in Cuba and establishing new contacts and friends.
Since 1993 Cuba Support Group has been sponsoring a number of projects in Cuba. This involves sending essential items to schools and clinics: medicines, medical supplies, pens, pencils, copybooks, etc., and hearing aids and other specialised audio equipment for a school for deaf children.
THE PROJECTS 26 de Julio School. This is a residential school for deaf children. There are 86 students (boys and girls) aged between five and fourteen, and a staff of 46.
Luis A. Turcios Lima Secondary School. 390 students (average age thirteen) and a teaching staff of 52.
Efrain Mayor Amaro Polyclinic caters for a population of 34,800 people; it has 42 doctors and medical technicians.
National Asthma Centre, Havana provides services for asthma sufferers from Havana and throughout Cuba. It has 16 doctors and technicians.
The "Heroes of Baire" General Hospital is located on the Isle of Youth. A chiropractic clinic has been established which will be staffed by Irish and British chiropractors.
