Mayo's Admiral Brown and Caolan Doris

by Auld Stock

I AM sure RTE has a well-paid research team.

Yet, in the recent Ireland/Argentine rugby international in the Aviva Stadium, in the post-march discussion, not one of the contributors had any knowledge where Admiral Brown came from.

“I think he came from somewhere in the west of Ireland,” one of the contributors casually said.

This comment came after Ireland had been presented with the Admiral Brown memorial trophy when they had beaten Argentina.

To put the record straight, Admiral William Brown, founder of the Argentinian Navy, was born in Foxford in 1777.

Brown emigrated to Argentina as a young man.

Over the years a number of Argentinian ambassadors and other dignitaries from that country have visited Foxford.

I am sure if Brown had been born in Dublin, RTE would be the first to highlight the fact if a cup in his honour was presented to members of the Irish rugby team.

Incidentally, Caolan Doris, one of the brightest stars of the Irish team, lives just a few miles away from the birthplace of Admiral William Brown.

RTE would do well to check their facts in future.