Spanish Civil War Exhibition and Discussion 8pm Friday 1st August 2008 @ Cathedral Road, Armagh

armagh | anti-capitalism | event notice Monday July 21, 2008 15:52 by Gareth Mackle - Féile Ard Mhacha Thiar / West Armagh Community Festival westarmagh at aol dot com Cathedral Road Community Complex, 20 Cathedral Road, Armagh 028 (048) 37522759

Remembering the International Brigades

The story of the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) is one of the most emotional tragedies of 20th Century history. From all over the world, democrats, socialists, anarchists, communists, republicans and progressive liberals volunteered to defend the Democratic Republic of Spain from an attempted coup d’état by the Fascist General Francisco Franco and his allies in Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. While the major western powers stood back and allowed democracy and freedom in Spain to be overrun and crushed by a fascist dictatorship, many brave men and women gave their lives to honour the democratic will of the Spanish people.

A significant number of those who fought and died for the Spanish Republic came from Ireland and many were made famous in Christy Moore’s version of the ballad ‘Viva La Quince Brigada’. Names like Bob Hilliard, the Church of Ireland pastor, and Charlie Donnelly, the young republican poet, are now synonymous with a fight for freedom that paid no heed to religious or ethnic distinction. The Fifteenth International Brigade was made up primarily of volunteers from Britain, France, Ireland and America.

To celebrate the memory of the Irish brigaders and, particularly, to honour Charlie Donnelly from Dungannon and Jim Haughey from Lurgan, the West Armagh Community Festival will host a discussion evening on the legacy of the Civil War. A short film will be shown, followed by speaker contributions and an open floor discussion.

Panellists will include Tommy McKearney from the Independent Workers Union, Harry Owens – co-author with Bob Doyle of ‘Brigadista – An Irishman’s Fight against Fascism’ and Francie Molloy from Sinn Féin.

Books, flags and t-shirts commemorating the Spanish Republic will also be on sale. This event will be followed by a wine and supper reception with traditional music. Admission to the event is free.