Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Cuban veteran visits UCC


'What does revolution mean to the youth of today?' This was the theme of the event which saw a delegation of Cubans visit the campus of University College Cork recently to mark the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs. Amongst the delegation was veteran revolutionary Victor Dreke Cruz. Victor Dreke had served closely with Che Guevara during the Cuban Revolution. He was also instrumental in organising students to fight with the revolutionaries.


A good humored and jovial Victor Dreke told of his time in the revolution and a diligent audience listen to him recount his tales of the revolution. Many questions were also asked from interested participants ranging from topics such as Cuba's efforts to help liberate African nations to the type of war planes used in the Bay of Pigs invasion. The audience was made up of the members of the Martin Hurson Cumann based in UCC. There was also a healthy attendance from the wider student populace who came along to hear the veteran revolutionary.


Following the talk the delegation were invited outside to lay a wreath at the republican plot in UCC. The plots holds the remains of volunteers who were executed by British forces in what was the Cork Gaol, where part of the college now stands. Victor Dreke was then presented with a portrait of the Hunger Strikers by the Martin Hurson Cumann.

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