an official visit to the newly founded Irish Free State, bought Ballynahinch Castle estate and visited the area every year till his death in 1932. Major John Riley, an Irish Catholic soldier from Clifden, who deserted from the United States Army over anti-Catholicism in the United States and religious persecution by White Anglo-Saxon Protestant officers. Riley became a Major in the Mexican Army and the commanding officer of the highly decorated Saint Patrick's Battalion during the Mexican–American War. Tim Robinson, a cartographer, has lived many years in Connemara and published books on the area. Gráinne Seoige, the Irish TV presenter and journalist, who has worked for TG4, RTÉ, Sky News Ireland and the BBC, is a native of An Spidéal. Síle Seoige, the Irish TV presenter and journalist. She is the younger sister of Gráinne Seoige and a fellow native of An Spidéal Mairtin Thornton was a heavyweight boxer, nicknamed the "Connemara Chrusher", he was the Irish Heavyweight boxing champion in 1943, and fought Bruce Woodcock for the British heavyweight title in 1945. Cultural references Connemara Wedding is a poem written by (–1820) French singer Michel Sardou had an international hit with the song "Les Lacs du Connemara" in 1981. The Irish drinking song "The Hills of Connemara" has been recorded and performed by a number of Irish and Celtic-themed bands. Poet Carl Sandburg's home of 22 years in Flat Rock, North Carolina, which is now a national monument, is named after the Connemara region. Conamara Chaos is a region of chaotic terrain on Jupiter's moon Europa. The Connemara pony is a breed of horse native to the region. The only native pony breed in Ireland. Connemara is also the name of a brand of Irish whiskey produced at the Cooley Distillery. Annalistic references 807. A slaughter was made of the Conmaicni by the foreigners. Film and TV The Quiet Man, 1952, film by John Ford The Field, 1990, film by Jim Sheridan Cré na Cille, 2007, film by Robert Quinn The Guard, 2011, film by John Michael McDonagh Black '47, 2018, film by Lance Daly Literature Mícheál Mac Suibhne, agus Filidh an tSéibhe, 1934, poetry collection, edited by Tomas Ó Maille, Dublin, Foils. an Rialtais, Cré na Cille, 1949, novel, by Máirtín Ó Cadhain, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, 1996, play by Martin McDonagh Star of the Sea, 2011, novel by Joseph O'Connor The Crow of Connemara, 2015, novel