Site of the City of O'Brien, Bragado Argentina, a village of Campo, capital of Friendship

O'Brien is a town founded by Edward O'Brien and Jane Bohan in 1909. They used the Spanish model of a central square surrounded by public buildings and the church. The layout, with wide pedestrian paths and streets, gives to this joyful town a good sense of space and invites its people to engage in social activities
The town of O'Brien is located in the southwest of the province of Buenos Aires and was founded by Edward (Eduardo) O'Brien. The founding ceremony took place on the 21st March 1909. He planned this town on his land and donated the sites for the square, town council, two schools, hospital, cemetery and other public buildings. He also donated the land for the church. He carried the total cost for the design and construction of the St Patrick's Church (Iglesia de San Patricio). The O'Brien Railway Station is situated on the 46 Provincial Road at Km 229,9 from the terminal Plaza Once Station. Chacabuco and Los Toldos are two important towns near to O'Brien. Junín and 9 de Julio are two other towns not very distant. There are two books on the anecdotal history of our town: O'Brien... Una Gran Familia by the students of the Escuela Comercial, and O'Brien en la Historia by Juan Isidro Quesada and Juan Ramón D'Angelo
“Where the compass card points to the North Where Bragado borders with Junín and Viamonte, There, my beloved O'Brien is to be found..." By Basilio Hipólito Jordy
Article written by Anabela Bowen IRELAND, THE GREAT FAMINE, EDWARD O’BRIEN, JANE BOHAN AND THE TOWN OF O’BRIEN The following is a simple picture about how the land was managed in Ireland around the time that the Great Famine occurred. In 1840 the land was owned by landlords who divided it into smaller plots, which were kept by tenants who paid rent to the landlords. These tenants also had sub-tenants. In 1841 there were 408,000 tenants with a small farm and 65,000 of them had very small plots of land of less than 1 acre (1 Hectare is approx. 2.5 acres). ‘Small Farmers’ were the ones who had from 6 to 15 acres of land. The land was divided in two areas: one for growing potatoes and vegetables that were used to feed the family and the animals and the other for growing grain. Most of the grain was assigned to pay the exorbitant rents. The tenants and sub-tenants were also earned the necessary income from selling chickens, eggs, butter, ham and other farm products. They also cut turf and f ished, depending on the geographical area where they were living. With regards to the potato, it was brought to Europe from Peru and was introduced into Ireland in 1590. From them on, it changed the eating habits of the Irish population. It was an easy crop to grow and a small plot gave a fair amount of potatoes. This left time for other work to be done that would bring money to the household. The first variety of potato that was cultivated was later replaced by a different one (a lumper potato) that needed little manure, gave a bigger crop and could be grown in poorer areas. It also had resistance to the dry rot caused by a fungus. As a consequence of this ‘potato bonanza’, the Irish population that was little more than 3,000,000 in 1800 grew to 8,500,000 by 1845. Correlated to the growing population, the land was sub-divided into even smaller plots in order to feed a bigger number of families. The production of grain and milk suffered as a consequence of the lack of space. In 1845, the potato was attacked by a fungus to which it had no resistance. This was phythophthora infestans (potato blight), which was the cause of the so-called Great Irish Famine. Although it lasted until 1850, the worst period of this famine was from 1845 to 1847. It should be noted that there were other famines in Ireland prior to this one: in the years 1816-17, 1822, 1826 and 1831 causing a considerable number of deaths due to hunger and to the plagues associated with the lack of food - but none of them had the drastic consequences of the Great Irish Famine. This fungus also attacked the potato crops in other countries and was the cause of deaths in France, Germany, the Low Countries, Switzerland, Britain and the South of Canada. But the consequences in those countries were on a much smaller scale, as there wasn’t the same dependence on the potato as in Ireland. Grain crops were not affected, but grain was exported to Britain and this practice continued unashamedly during the Famine. Different measures were taken by the government to alleviate the situation with little or no results. It was mainly in the landlords’ hands to give the necessary help. Some of them did help, but the majority didn’t. Unemployment, lack of money and starvation increased. People were living miserable lives and suffered the most appalling poverty. Other reaped the benefits of the situation such as moneylenders and unscrupulous shopkeepers who sold at very high prices on credit. Thefts were on the increase due to the needs of the people. Some used this recourse to be punished and sent to do hard labour in Australia - in this way they gained the possibility of a future instead of starving to death. Many people started to emigrate mainly to America and Canada. Many died in these trips unable to endure the terrible conditions of these voyages: “Until 1850, when iron-hulled screw steamers were introduced, it took at least a month to cross the Atlantic. Travellers were given a basic minimum of food and water, but had to provide anything else themselves. The packed holds were a fertile ground for typhus. Only a very small number of these vessels were wrecked, but the wrecks were widely reported and vividly described, adding to the fears of the trip. The worst death rate among emigrants occurred in 1847, when the notorious ‘coffin ships’ travelled to Canada; of over 100,000 emi grants making this trip, one- sixth died on board ship or soon after landing. Possibly about 5 per cent of the Famine emigrants died; the normal death rate, however, was about 2 per cent.”… “Despite all the reasons to be afraid of the journey, nothing could stop desperate people determined to go.” …. “An example of the notorious ‘coffin ships’ was the barque Elizabeth and Sarah, which sailed from County Mayo in July 1846, heading for Canada. She carried 276 persons, instead of the 212 listed, and had only 8,700 gallons of water for the voyage, instead of the 12,532 gallons she should have had. Each passenger was entitled to be given 7 lbs of provisions each week, but none was ever distributed. The 276 passengers shared 32 berths, and there was no sanitary facility of any kind. The voyage took eight weeks, because the captain took the wrong course, and by the time the ship broke down and was towed into the St Lawrence river in September, 42 people had died. By this time the authorities in Canada and the United States thought they knew what to expect from the emigrant ships – thousands of emigrants had arrived already, and their n umbers and poverty had caused the passing of various Passenger Acts, forbidding emigrants who had no money or subsistence to land. But no one expected the ‘ship fever’ of 1847, that is, the typhus fever which now crossed the Atlantic as well. In 1847, the St Lawrence River, the entrance route to Canada, stayed frozen over until May, much later than usual. The first ship, which then arrived at Grosse Ile, the quarantine station, had 84 cases of fever on board (nine had died). They had all come from Ireland, via Britain. The quarantine hospital could only accommodate 200 people but eight more ships arrived carrying 430 fever cases, and three days later seventeen more ships. By May 26, thirty vessels waited at Grosse Ile to be cleared, with 10,000 emigrants on board. By May 31 this had risen to forty ships, stretching two miles down the river. Conditions became intolerable. Tents were hastily erected on land, but patients were often left for days on the ships without treatment. Most of the ships had not one healthy person on board, and those who had escaped fever were weakened by starvation. Processions of boats carried the sick and dead from the ships, flinging them on the beach to crawl to the hospital if they could.” [The Irish Famine, An illustrated history by Helen Litton –-pp.105 – 107] Not just the poor emigrated, but also merchants, tradesmen and entrepreneurs, who with the prospect of an economy collapsing became adventurers themselves in these voyages. These emigrants started to send money to their families when they could; as a consequence Ireland started to have important revenue from this emigration. Between 1846 and 1852 more than one million people left Ireland and between 1851 and 1910 approx. four millions left. In the previous paragraphs I gave a picture of the Ireland seen by Edward O’Brien and Jane Bohan before emigrating. From this point on, I change their names for Eduardo O’Brien and Juana Bohan. Bohan and Bowen are the same surname. Eduardo O’Brien was born in Wexford in 1836. The South of Wexford was not one of the most affected areas by the Famine, because it was a good area for cultivating peas. When Eduardo was 15 years old, his parents decided to emigrate. First they arrived in Rio Grande, Brazil, but not long after in 1852 they went to Argentina and established themselves in Carmen de Areco, then the great Irish centre for sheep-farming. In 1877 he married Juana Bohan. They then went to Bragado where they acquired San Eduardo. When the Western railway line from Suipacha to Bayauca was built, it divided the land of San Eduardo and the O’Brien railway station was created. Then there was great enthusiasm for building a town and in 1907 Eduardo O’Brien with the support of his wife planned the town and donated the sites for the public buildings, schools and the main central plaza. He also put the money for the construction and decoration of the St Patrick’s church in O’Brien designed by Robert Lornax. Some years before he died, when he already had the first symptoms of an illness, he travelled to Egypt, Jerusalem and Ireland. His health recovered with the distraction of travel but then his health deteriorated and died on January 8, 1912. Juana Bohan died some years later on November 2, 1917. To finish this article, I would like to mention some words that Juana said to my father: “We should be interested in how the indigenous people of these lands organised themselves and in their culture, and then create a totally new model. The models brought by the ones who arrived to this continent crossing seas worth nothing and carry a curse that they never encountered before: ‘Poverty’” For the events of the Irish Famine I have consulted The Irish Famine by Helen Litton. I have also included information given by my friends Donal, Maryrose and Peter.
Delegation of the City of Bragado O'Brien Avda. O'Brien 325 Tel. 02342-498045 St. Patrick Parish St. Patrick's 326 and / July 9 and May 25 Tel. 02342-498011 Police Sub Station Pcia. Buenos Aires May 25 and / Av. O'Brien and Rivadavia Tel. 02342-498046 Office Post Argentino May 25 and / Av. O'Brien and Rivadavia Sanitary Unit "Dr. Martin Espinel Bavio " May 25 and Maipú Tel. 02342-498009 Home for the Elderly "Mother Teresa of Calcutta" Maipú and Chacabuco. Tel. 02342-498382 Volunteer Firefighters O'Brien May 25 and / Av. O'Brien and Rivadavia Tel. 02342-498500 Elementary School No. 20 "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" July 9 and St. Patrick Tel. 02342-498129 Commercial Secondary Institute - 4144 Juan de Garay and May 25 Tel. 02342-498030/498153 Kindergarten No. 903 "Constancio C. VigiI " Rivadavia and / May 25 and July 9 Tel. 02342-498050 Special School No. 501 May 25 and / St. Patrick and Juan de Garay Library Bernardino Rivadavia Av. O'Brien and Chacabuco Tel. 02342-498010 Banco Provincia de Buenos Aires Rivadavia and / May 25 and July 9 Tel. 02342-498002/498021/498126 I.N.S.S.J.P. May 25 and Bowen Tel. 02342-498434 Civil Registry Av. O'Brien and / Chacabuco and May 25 Tel. 02342-498024 Municipal Cemetery Moreno s / No. Senior Center May 25 and Bowen Tel. 02342-498176 Villa Tranquila Athletic Club Corrientes and St. Patrick (in this institution started to play Fernando Cavenaghi) Juventud Unida Athletic Club Headquarters: July 9 and Rivadavia Tel. 02342-498080
A train en la Pampa Wet The West Rail O'Brien arrived in the December 5, 1907, the town built the station, taking the name of General O'Brien. As the pictures show, the station is a large building typical of the period, taking termination bricks in sight, zinc roofs, borders, with restrooms, waiting rooms, a wide walks and the home of the Chief of Station . While the train has stopped working, but knowing of the interest of local people to preserve their history, perhaps in the not too distant future would be nice to rediscover the old Railway Station as a Cultural Centre or as the Regional Museum. The training since leaving Station Eleven (Buenos Aires) and go after 229.9 km in 03:40 pm. Came to our city, in a time of approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes. The frequency of trains was varied according to different eras, some intercalándose for passengers and cargo to others in general. This mode of transportation was important for the economic development not only of the region but of all the peoples of the Province of Buenos Aires. The train finally stopped functioning in 1992, along with several diagrams of emergency. According to information he was approaches diagram tour was as follows: Eleven stations - O'Brien are as follows. (Abreviamos the local portion). Once, Haedo, Merlo, Moreno, La Reja, Fco. Alvarez, Stop Km. 49,100, Gral. Rodriguez, Lujan, Jauregui, Olivera, Gowland, Mercedes M. J. Garcia, Suipacha, Roman Baez, E. Ayarza, Palemon Huergo, Colonel Mom, Colonel Segui, Warnes, O'Brien, and continued: Zavalía, Bayauca, Lincoln, Gen. Pinto, Villegas, Realicó, Union C. Alvear, Carmensa. This is the itinerary that came into force in December 1990, so it was through much of 1991. We have no exact date when stopped running, but apparently disappeared with the diagram of emergency in 1992. The train was the No. 153-154, and leaving coupled to the train Suipacha No. 159-160 "Caldén" Gral. Pico. The 153-154 would Realicó, although it had no official name, internally called him "Calden Boy".
Reaching O'Brien is very easy, the map is at the top shows us how to get from Buenos Aires, first travelling by the Access to the west entrance of the town of Lujan, which is due to join the National Route No. 5 (Toll in Olivera) go to Bragado, where he must turn right by the provincial route No. 46 to the city of O'Brien. The total distance is 255 km. And as you can see the road is completely paved. If you choose to travel by Transport Chevallier or express Gral. Belgrano, the company has services every hour and a half from Terminal Omnibus Retirement arriving in 2 hours 45 "to the city of Bragado, which should make the change to the line express Junin, which has gone out from the Bragado 07:00, 11:55 and 18:30 arriving at O'Brien 07:50, 12:35 and 19:20 hours.For those who have vehicles with GNG, we can say that the route mentioned Gas stations are located at: Moreno, Major General Rodriguez, Lujan, Mercedes, Suipacha, Chivilcoy and Bragado. O'Brien also has a station Repsol YPF last generation, which has annexed mechanical services lightly. Also to reach our O'Brien there is a comfortable minibus service for 25 people, who daily travels: Bragado - Buenos Aires - Bragado Bragado - La Plata - Bragado. Tours, Tourism Committees. In Bragado: St. Martin 1789. Phone: 02342-421900 In Buenos Aires: Arenales 2257 Telephone: (011) 4826-3057. In O'Brien Phone: (02342) 498118 In La Plata Phone: (0221) 154852459. With schedules that are combined with the Express Junin, to travel: May 25, O'Brien, Morse and Junin.
TO BE FOUND IN O'BRIEN Not surprisingly O'Brien is called "Capital of Friendship" as it is for their peace of mind with wide streets and wooded, the hospitality of its people and its rich domestic activity, ranging from the cultural, social, artistic and sports . And as labor, business, bank, school, club and the house are not far; mobilized provided, arriving in a short time to any place. Therefore, this time saving at times becomes able to nap in the house. Being close throughout, it is very common to escape to fish, play a trick or practise any activity with friends. See that kids will go to school or the club, walking or cycling, O'Brien is normal. As regards education, and includes a comprehensive public education available in initial and secondary levels. In these segments teaching young people attending the full range of social, strengthening social integration of the entire community. With easy access to Route No. 46 and No. 5, reaching Federal Capital, not demand more than three hours of travel. It offers waste collection services and pruning, running water, television net or satellite signal. While the largest productive activity is linked to agriculture, including the production of soybeans (on a larger scale), wheat, corn, barley and alfalfa; is also extensive livestock farming, taking the Stays in the area very good stocks from Hereford and Holando. Unlike towns Similar, O'Brien has an outstanding activity in the area textiles for the market confection National, bombachas field, dust and clothing.
Calendar of events O'Brien Feast of Tradicionalista kindergarten No. 903 "Constancio C. Vigil. " Declared "Feast of Interest Heritage Cultural and Tourist" by the Municipality of Bragado. First week of November. A Feast for the Reunion Obriense Patronal Feast of St. Patrick. March 17. Anniversary of the Founding of the City. March 21. Tradicionalista Feast of July 9 Jineteadas dexterity and Creole. Organized by the Pena "Relincho" O'Brien. Annual Feast of the EGB No. 20. A benefit of the works of the EGB No. 20 O'Brien. In October Annual Festival of the Rifa Phone. Each September 15, we ask you to re-read this… For over ten years, the community of O'Brien and the area comes together and extend its unconditional Support our goal of making the Unity Health Dr. Martin Espinel Bavio a health center to the right Needs of people here looking for attention. We have worked hard and much remains to be done, many goals to accomplish. And to be able to continue our mission is that we invite you to the traditional Therefore, we need your help, and if again you say THIS… Rural Bike in O'Brien, to Benefit the EGB No. 20 Feast in Tradicionalista O'Brien, organized by the kindergarten No. 903 Constancio C. Vigil "While we do not forget our origins, walk towards a better Argentina and our children will live, the undeniable legacy: Roots and Wings" THE ORIGIN OF THE PARTY. Organized by the kindergarten No. 903, annually conducts the Feast Tradicionalista between the 1st and 2nd weekend of November, in the City of O'Brien, the party of Bragado, northeast of the Province of Buenos Aires, on Route No. 46. The group formed by the Association Cooperadora and Support Subcommittee of the Garden, conducted this event in order to raise funds for the purpose that most kids have a decent Establishment, where carrying out its inception in learning. Surge as a felt need for the City, and became the cornerstone of popular feast. The festival has taken great importance in the city and nearby villages, as they are considered "La Fiesta del Pueblo," and has deserved to be recognized as the "Feast of interest Heritage, Culture and Tourism of the Party of Bragado. Over the years the company has increased the number of riders who parade through the streets of our city, in the latest edition were more than five hundred. In conjunction with this parade of local institutions and neighboring cities with costumes and antique carriages from stays nearby, as well as vintage cars. Our community has a population of approximately 2500 people to the party far exceeds this number in competing and is therefore the second largest in the party Bragado. In recent years the scene of O'Brien have gone from various artists such as: "Támara Castro," "The Yupanqui," "El Gato Peters," "The Chacarerata Santiagueña", "The Brothers Miranda," "Gaston Barral. In the 2005 edition participated Roberto Carabajal and Cuti, "Chaguanco" Banda "Curupayti" Yamila Cafrune, the Group of 10 Artillery of Junin, Juan Carlos Bustos Group "New Estate, Renato and his band (Junin)," Confluence "(La Plata) and Winners Bonaerenses Youth Tournaments, and other local singers and ballet, zonal and provincial. The sense of celebration is to return to our roots and reinstall traditionalist values in our society. In the year 1998 in a joint work with the CPA was formed the group "Youth for Life" who worked in the fight and prevention of addictions. Also participating organizations such as Healthy Municipality, Ecoclubs, members of the Foundation Favaloro, etc.. Everything collected is used in the renovation of a building that was rebuilt over the years and the purchase of educational material with the aim of the small possessing an optimal environment and secure. In the period 2005 school, was inaugurated by the Board of 2 years (Maternal Garden), which commits us to build a new classroom because it was used for this purpose Directorate of the establishment. TRADICIONALISTA FESTIVAL IN O'BRIEN ORGANIZED BY GARDEN COMMITTEE OF 903 AND FESTEJO "Those people who know, care and preserve their customs and traditions rarely lose on the road ..." O'brien and its history, due to the centennial of its founding ... "On Sunday, March 21 at 2 pm. FERRANDO pm at HOTEL OF THE PEOPLE OF BRAGADO, THE MARTILLEROS CORVETA PERALTA AND MARTINEZ "... And read the notice of the auction lots, farms and fifths that Edward O'Brien put in motion what would later be our people, in their original plan and were designed and donated the land for various public agencies. This stubborn Irish this March 21, 1909 founded a village, a dream fulfilled. Today about to turn 100 years after its founding (in 2009), O'Brien is expanding, with good community projects, with people who love their homeland and to inject every day the holy fire of work and progress. ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP IN THE GARDEN Draft institutional Revalorizando tradition Because traditional values are the foundation of our identity, the Garden with this innovative proposal aims to preserve and disseminate cultural heritage through different expressions: oral language, body, crafts, clothing, meals Typical samples of objects, and so on. All working for and by the Feast. Conducted Workshops Áulicos made by the participation of children with their families: The family, a tradition, fun with the games yesterday, values, Legends Argentine folk stories, our musical heritage, Puppet gauchescos. PARADE AND INSTITUTIONAL CRIOLLO WALK. Children's Garden started the parade, giving brightness and warmth to the party, together with the institutions obrienses. Then continues with the participation of more than 300 riders who walk the streets of the city with colourful emprendados carriages and vintage arriving from neighboring rooms. Finally, a moment of excitement, the greeting gaucho where every flag near the stage, and together with the authorities and public present entonan the Argentine national anthem. PHOTO EXHIBITION AND SAMPLE OF ARTISANS. Sample centres artisans from nearby towns: gauchescas garments, woven in the loom, soguería silverware, leather, candles, etc.. Photo Exhibition of small animated Garden. SAMPLE PHOTOGRAPHIC. Group: BEARING THE MUSEUM. "O'Brien progresses, we are proud and we started on the path of the large villages, searching the footsteps of those who shaped this community and labor solidarity in the past." There will be a photographic exhibition, as a first step of the project Museo del Pueblo, to be located at the Railway Station. FOGONES. On Saturday evening is the lighting of Fogones where you can enjoy delicious varieties of meat, costillares the grill, empanadas, choripanes, cakes, craft and specialty alfajores in cakes, which he put flavor and color to the festivities. THE GARDEN OF MANGRULLO. Typical is the restaurant where the feast is served different kinds of meats and other delicacies sweet and salty. It is also part of roasted Creole, where dinner in a warm and festive, about 150 people, including authorities and guest artists. At the 12 th. Tradicionalista edition of the Feast of kindergarten No. 903, was held an emotional and well- deserved recognition. Therefore, designated by the name of Dr. Federico Villamil on stage, a way to express affection and respect for the City to the prestigious professional, which made possible the treatment free of charge, of the patients with hepatitis "C". This does more than highlight the greatness of this medical Favaloro Foundation. "Photo Exhibit Displays and Artisan." During the festival, are presented within the institution pictures of the children who have passed and are in the Garden, and a sample of how it was to grow over the years the festival. Past and present go hand in hand, giving you the importance of the festival. The latest edition featured a photographic exhibition by Marita Maienza that exposed images of old fronts of the buildings in the city, in addition to the sample being made by craftsmen with gauchescas garments, weaving, silverware, rope and leather. "Roast of vaquillona." To enjoy a gaucho ritual, in honor of the riders who have gone through the parade, where he shared the table more than 300 people who relish the vaquillona roast early. "The Mangrullo." It's the typical restaurant of the Feast, serving all kinds of grilled meats, regional foods, pastries, etc.. It is also part of roasted Creole, where they can dine around 150 people.
From the beginning, and to the idea of developing a site dedicated to O'Brien, from the premise disseminate and make transcend everything related to this beloved place in Argentina. So in addition to invite people from hearing its people, history, institutions, and festivals, we believe that it could also serve to show a little more: the artistic expressions of obrienses. Choir O'Brien Photo by Marita Maienza The book "O'Brien in History", Written by Juan Isidro Quesada and Juan Ramon D'Angelo, recounting the history of the people. Change the name of the station O'Brien and the postal courier O'Brien by the General O'Brien, By Jorge Gustavo Zanela O'Brien Rock 25 Years Light and The Seventh Angel, from O'Brien, rock bands with all the power Filleted Porteño, Miguel Angel Aparicio shows us this art well Creole