Dublin, October 10, 2025. As the first activity of the First National Meeting of Cubans Residing in Ireland and their Descendants, to be held on October 10 and 11, this morning, Cubans and Irish people paid tribute to the Irish journalist and parliamentarian, James Joseph O'Kelly, who interviewed, at risk to his life, the Father of the Nation, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, in the Mambí jungle and wrote his memoirs about his visit to Cuba in late 1872 and early 1873 in the book entitled "Mambi Land".
Chaired by the Cuban ambassador to Ireland, Bernardo Guanche Hernández, and Senator Chris Andrews, Coordinator of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Cuba, and attended by Ann Graves TD, a member of the same group, as well as Cuban residents in Ireland and Irish friends, the tribute consisted of the laying of wreaths at the resting place of the prominent journalist.
In his remarks, the ambassador emphasized that "Mambi Land" officially entered Cuba in 1930 with a prologue by anthropologist Don Fernando Ortiz. In it, Ortiz, referring to O'Kelly, wrote: "His body lies in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery, beneath a monument erected by his political comrades. One day, Cubans will lay flowers in his memory with sympathy and gratitude."
The wealth of information that "Mambi Land" offers about the daily lives of the insurgents is one of its greatest merits for today's Cuba, under the US blockade, since, based on his experience with the Mambises, he emphasized the importance of nature as a source of food, medicine, and shelter.
He noted that we owe to O'Kelly's pen one of the best portraits ever made of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Cuba's first president.
For his part, Senator Andrews expressed his gratitude for the invitation and expressed his sympathy for the Cuban people and their struggle against the US blockade, which has lasted more than six decades. He also highlighted the role played by O'Kelly as a fighter for Irish independence.
To the pleasant surprise of those present, the cemetery historian, Luke Gibbons, brought a copy of the first edition of "Mambi Land" from 1874, in English, to the ceremony, explaining that he preserves it as a historical relic of great value.
The Communist Party of Ireland sent a wreath, which was placed next to the wreath from the Cuban Mission.