Spanish Civil War memorial unveiling

antrim | history and heritage | news report

Monday October 15, 2007 22:38

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin - International Brigade Commemoration Committee

ciaranobrolchain at hotmail dot com

Monument unveiled in Belfast

With the International Brigade Memorial Trust AGM taking place in Belfast on the weekend of 12-14 October, attendees were overjoyed to witness the unveiling of a memorial to those who took a stand in defence of the Spanish Republic on Saturday 13th October in Writers' Square.

The monument

A large crowd had gathered for the Saturday morning event. The proceedings were opened by the secretary of the International Brigade Commemoration Committee, Kevin Doherty, who explained the work of the Committee in Belfast over the past two years to have a memorial erected in the city, and was greeted with applause when he mentioned that they had received no corporate sponsorship. A wreath of flowers was then presented to Amaya Ruiz Ibárruri, the daughter of La Pasionaria Dolores Ibárruri.

Doherty then continued to explain some of the difficulties faced by the committee in having a memorial erected, and thanked the Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie for the role she played in guaranteeing a site for the monument. Ritchie was then invited to say a few words.

The last surviving Irish veteran of the International Brigades, Bob Doyle, then made a short speech about the continuing need for vigilance against fascism and imperialism, and the continuing nature of the class war. Pól Mac Adaim, Chairperson of the IBCC, then performed the international workers' anthem the Internationale in Irish and English before Bob unveiled the memorial.

With the proceedings finished many of the crowd began making their way to one of the events organised by the IBMT. Many more however stayed to admire the memorial and to meet the International Brigade veterans who were present for the event, Bob Doyle, Jack Edwards and Jack Jones.

No pasarán.

The inscription on the monument

Bob Doyle with Harry Owens and IBCC Chair Pól Mac Adaim

IB veterans Bob Doyle, Jack Edwards and Jack Jones

Kevin Doherty

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Comments (8 of 8)

A few more photos

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin - IBCC

Mon Oct 15, 2007 22:41

A few more photos from the proceedings.

Amaya Ruiz Ibárruri presented with flowers

Bob Doyle unveils the monument

The Brigadistas at the monument

The Brigadistas with several members of the IBCC

The artists, Anto and Gerard Brennan

Video

Mon Oct 15, 2007 22:43

Pól Mac Adaim sings the Internationale in Irish and English, following an introduction by Kevin Doherty who reads from Michael O'Riordan's book "Connolly Column".

by Asier

Tue Oct 16, 2007 14:55

Its a great monument!

Tiocfaidh ár lá!
Jo Ta Ke irabazi arte!

Congratulations

by Dermot Lacey

Tue Oct 16, 2007 20:49

Congratulations to all involved in this. Very early in my time on Dublin City Council I proposed that a Civic Reception be held for the surviving Brigade members in Dublin - the motion was seconded by Pat Mc Cartan then of the Workers Party. Despite some misgivings from some Councillors it was overwhelmingly carried and a good day was held in the Mansion House. It was a real honour to meet those men that day and whatever disunity there is on the Left there can only be unity in admiration for the men and women who fought and dies in the defence of the Spanish Republic.

This is good to see but,

by Anarcholad

Wed Oct 17, 2007 18:34

invoking the memory La Pasionaria Dolores Ibárruri is a bit strange- She whilst being a great orator was a member of the Spanish CP which oversaw the destruction of revolutionary spain and with it and chance of winning the war, never mind the well documented torture of the factions which opposed their moscow line

Sat Aug 23, 2008 16:01

Caption: Video Id: zRPmSKaARt8 Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

Update on this report

by Anti Fascist - Int. Brigade Commemoration Committee

Sat Aug 23, 2008 23:25

Ciarans report is interesting, but it is a report of the initial memorial ceremony from Oct. 2007.

There were problms with the planners but after only (!) a 12 month delay we now have permission to permanently erect the memorial.

IT WILL BE Re-DEDICATED on November 8th.

More details to follow as we get them sorted.

Fitting: Billy Bragg sings 'The Internationale' at the memorial to the International Brigades at Occ

by #occupybelfast

Sun Oct 30, 2011 19:06

Fitting: Billy Bragg sings 'The Internationale' at the memorial to the International Brigades at Occupy Belfast
vid at http://tinyurl.com/67ffh6t (youtube coming soon)

Fair play to Billy Bragg, all the OCCUPY camps that are up and running in Ireland, he visited and played in all of them, brilliant. Thanks.

Report with all the tunes he played at the 2000+ people demo in dublin, at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100658&comment_limit=0&...85176

#OccupyDameStreet (Dublin)
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100658

#OccupyCork
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100751

#OccupyGalway
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100770

#OccupyBelfast
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100808

The list is growing, maybe next up will be Waterford, Limerick, Letterkenny...

This year is 75 years since both the war and the peoples revolution in Spain, heres a link to some videos to remember what happened in Spain.

Vids to remember 75 years ago: Spanish civil war + Revolution

http://barcelonaentransicio.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/es...pues/

The Internationale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale

Stand up, all victims of oppression,
For the tyrants fear your might!
Don't cling so hard to your possessions,
For you have nothing if you have no rights!
Let racist ignorance be ended,
For respect makes the empires fall!
Freedom is merely privilege extended,
Unless enjoyed by one and all.
  So come brothers and sisters,
  For the struggle carries on.
  The Internationale,
  Unites the world in song.
  So comrades, come rally,
  For this is the time and place!
  The international ideal,
  Unites the human race.

Let no one build walls to divide us,
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone.
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us,
We'll live together or we'll die alone.
In our world poisoned by exploitation,
Those who have taken, now they must give!
And end the vanity of nations,
We've but one Earth on which to live.
  So come brothers and sisters,
  For the struggle carries on.
  The Internationale,
  Unites the world in song.
  So comrades, come rally,
  For this is the time and place!
  The international ideal,
  Unites the human race.

And so begins the final drama,
In the streets and in the fields.
We stand unbowed before their armour,
We defy their guns and shields!
When we fight, provoked by their aggression,
Let us be inspired by life and love.
For though they offer us concessions,
Change will not come from above!
  So come brothers and sisters,
  For the struggle carries on.
  The Internationale,
  Unites the world in song.
  So comrades, come rally,
  For this is the time and place!
  The Internationale,
  Unites the human race.

Billy Bragg with Occupy Belfast (with hurl in hand...)

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