Longford Westmeath Argentina Society annual asado in Abbeyshrule

The Ambassador of Argentina to Ireland, Ana Laura Cachaza, joined the approximately 130 people present at The Rustic Inn in Abbeyshrule on Saturday evening for the Longford Westmeath Argentina Society’s annual asado—a traditional Argentine barbecue—celebrating enduring links between Ireland and Argentina.

Addressing the packed event, Ambassador Cachaza expressed gratitude for the society’s ongoing commitment to nurturing ties between the two countries, which she described as “very much alive” in the region.

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“We love to be here every year, sharing this evening with all of you,” she said. “It’s amazing to hear how many of you have visited Argentina—from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls, Bariloche to Mendoza. These connections make our work at the embassy so much easier.”

She noted that the asado is held annually around Argentina’s Día del Amigo (Friendship Day), saying it was “fantastic” to celebrate a shared spirit of friendship at this time of year.

Among the guests were several former Irish ambassadors to Argentina and members of Irish families who maintain links with Argentine relatives or descendants of emigrants who once settled there.

Projects:

As part of the evening, Longford Westmeath Argentina Society chairperson Una Byrne unveiled details of an upcoming oral history initiative and vouched support for a campaign to bring a historic statue to Westmeath.

Ms Byrne told attendees that Longford and Westmeath County Councils had launched a new oral history project aimed at preserving personal accounts of emigration to Argentina and return journeys to Ireland. Oral historian Adrian Roche will lead the project and host public talks during Heritage Week in Ballymahon (2.30pm) and Mullingar (6.30pm) libraries on August 21.

“These testimonies are vital for preserving the shared history between Ireland and Argentina for future generations,” Ms Byrne said, encouraging community participation.

She also referenced the 150th anniversary of The Southern Cross, a Buenos Aires-based newspaper serving the Irish diaspora. Early editions are already available on microfilm in Mullingar Library, but a digitisation project will soon make the archives fully searchable online.

Former Irish ambassador to Argentina, Justin Harman, confirmed that the full 150 years of Southern Cross archives will be available digitally thanks to support from the Irish Government and the National Library of Argentina.

In a surprise historical note, Mr Harman also raised the subject of efforts to relocate a life-sized bust of General José de San Martín—Argentina’s national liberator—to Westmeath or Longford. The statue was gifted to Ireland in 1966 during joint centenary commemorations but has remained in storage in Dublin ever since.

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Ms Byrne said the society would support the effort.

A highlight of the evening was a demonstration of tango dancing given by two professional dancers, while music for the occasion was provided by Johnny Carroll, "the man with the golden trumpet".