THE CIGAR THAT SPARKED A REVOLUTION

[El Presidente]

THE CIGAR THAT SPARKED A REVOLUTION

 

"Quesada conferred with local leaders in West Tampa on a means of smuggling the message into Cuba, and upon a suggestion by Fernando Figueredo, they decided to conceal it in a cigar. Late one night, a few members of the local revolutionary junta met at the O’Halloran Cigar Factory at Howard Ave. and Union St., and Blas O’Halloran rolled five Panetela cigars-all identical. The one concealing the message, the historic "Cigar of Liberty," was distinguishable by two tiny yellow specks on the tobacco wrapper. Days later, Quesada, with the five cigars in his pocket, sailed to Key West. There he was met by Miguel Angel Duque De Estrada, the man chosen to deliver the message to Juan Gualberto Gomez, the insurgent chief of the island of Cuba."

 

Great piece if you have the time.  You have to love the name Rafael O'Halloran  

CONTINUED

[Fuzz]

16 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

You have to love the name Rafael O'Halloran  

And his sons; Blas, Estanislaus and Ignacio.

[SirVantes]

And their grumpy grandfather, Don Juan No Yellin O’Halloran. 

[Habana Mike]

Irish Cuban? Who knew....

World is a mixing pot. That's a good thing.

[El Presidente]

13 minutes ago, Habana Mike said:

Irish Cuban? Who knew....

World is a mixing pot. That's a good thing.

It explains why Andy Ryan's middle name is Jorge 

[Ryan]

Interesting bit, I never heard that story before and I hadn't heard of O' Halloran cigars.

There is a 400 year history between the Irish and Cuba, the connection can be summed up with "displaced catholic islanders".

Irish names got around, we didn't have access to condoms until 1992.