From Unity, 29 September 2007

Saluting Los Internacionales in Belfast and beyond

by Lynda Walker

In February 2005 a small group of people met in the Linen Hall Library in Belfast to discuss the idea of marking the seventieth anniversary of the Spanish Anti-Fascist War (1936–39). There was also another objective to the meeting, and that was to put in place in Belfast a memorial to those men and women who had contributed to the fight against fascism: people like Jim Strainey from the Falls and Billy Tumelson from the Shankill (later to take the Irish form of his name, Liam).
     This uncovers a remarkable unity of the working-class men and women from Ireland, albeit a minority, who saw the need to help to defend the Spanish people. For some that meant going to fight in Spain; for others it took the form of collecting food, holding meetings, and sending aid to Spain. Anyone who knows the politics of Ireland will recognise the importance of this action.
     Returning to the meeting in February 2005, amongst those who were present was Michael O’Riordan, one of the International Brigaders who went to Spain in 1938. Sadly, Mick died in May 2006. Michael was a member of the International Brigade Memorial Trust, an organisation that covers Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland. (The International Veteran Association, whose membership was only for the brigaders who fought in Spain, unified with the Friends of the International Brigade to form the IBMT.)
     From the meeting in February the International Brigade Commemoration Committee was established in the North of Ireland. Its aim was to organise a number of events to mark the seventieth anniversary, and to raise funds for a memorial in Belfast.
     The project took off with flying colours. One of the first events was marked by International Women’s Day in 2006 with a talk by Angela Jackson about the women’s role in Spain, 1936–39, followed by a fund-raising social in the John Hewitt. The Belfast Trades Council, along with the Messines Association, put on a series of talks about the Spanish Anti-Fascist War, and more recently the Craigavon Trades Council held an event.
     Fund-raising took the form of many socials with various artists, from the country-and-western music of the Half-Stoned Cowboys to the traditional music of Gerry Jones, Paul Maguire, Denis Bowers, Angela and Liam Delaney, and others. Martin Lynch performed his one-man play, and Pól Mac Adaim and Mel Corry performed their own style of music. A badge and a T-shirt were designed and sold for the project. In fact many organisations and individuals have contributed money and efforts for the memorial.
     It was not possible to get the memorial established for 2006, but the seventieth anniversary was marked with the placing of a plaque in the John Hewitt. The brigade veteran Bob Doyle came to Belfast to unveil this. Some difficulties were experienced regarding getting the site, but eventually, with a little help from the Belfast City Council and others, the IBCC finally made it.
     Last year at the International Brigade Memorial Trust AGM in Manchester they proposed that their next AGM be held in Belfast on the 13th of October. The IBCC took the decision to make this the date of the unveiling of the memorial, and this has helped to focus the committee’s goal to have the memorial in place.
     This memorial is a tribute to those who fought fascism in Spain, and it is also a reminder of the fact that people from all faiths and none united together for that purpose. In modern-day Ireland, and in Belfast in particular, it is a beacon of hope that we can live and work together for the good of humanity. The weekend events on 12–14 October are the culmination of activities for the IBMT and IBCC.
• This article deals mostly with organisational and informational details. For the programme for the weekend of 12–14 October in Belfast contact:
     IBCC: Kevin Doherty: 077 48148863; kevin.doherty@burc.org
     IBMT AGM: Lynda Walker: 077 51951785; lyndaernest@btinternet.com
     Exhibition in the Linen Hall Library: Ciarán Crossey: cpcrossey@hotmail.com

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