Dundalk and the International Brigades in Spain

national | worker & community struggles and protests | press release

Monday March 13, 2017 15:57

by Dougie - Friends of the International Brigades in Ireland

Saturday March 25th, The Spirit Store, George's Quay, Dundalk

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Jarama, fought in the defence of Madrid from the onslaught of Franco's forces backed by Hitler and Mussolini, we remember those from the Dundalk area who died in the Spanish Civil War as part of the global struggle against fascism.

Who were they? Why did they die in Spain?
Dundalk and the International Brigades
Nach eol duit cérbh iad?
Na Briogáidí Idirnáisiúnta agus Dún Dealgan
Saturday March 25th, 1pm in The Spirit Store, George's Quay, Dundalk.
www.spiritstore.ie
Admission: €10 (€5 for either session)

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Jarama, that was fought during the defence of Madrid from the onslaught of fascist forces, we remember those from the Dundalk area who died in the Spanish Civil War, in that struggle against the combined forces of Franco, Hitler and Mussolini.

1:00PM Spanish Civil War Exhibition/Display

1:30PM Opening Addresses

President of FIBI
Chairman of Dundalk Municipal Council
Chairman of Louth County Council (TBC)

2:00PM
Bob Doyle by Harry Owens
Harry Owens, co-author of "Brigadista" with Bob Doyle. Bob was the last surviving Irish combatant of the war in Spain when he died aged 92 in 2009.

2:20PM
Musical Interlude with Pól Mac Adaim

2:30PM
Michael O’Riordan by Manus O’Riordan.

(Manus will talk about his father in Spain along with some music and poetry)
Manus O'Riordan, former head of research at SIPTU. He is the son of the late Michael O'Riordan who was a Spanish Civil War veteran. Michael O'Riordan carried the flag of Catalonia across the River Ebro in July 1938, to launch what was the final offensive of the Army of the Spanish Republic in the war. Michael's ashes were partly scattered on the Ebro and the remainder on the waters of Carlingford Lough.

3:00PM
Andrew Delaney by Roddy Delaney.
(Roddy is a nephew of Andy Delaney)

3:20PM
Musical Interlude with Pól and friends, followed by short tea/coffee break.

4:00PM
An Introduction to the Life and Times of Charlie Donnelly, by historian Brian Hanley.

Dr Brian Hanley is a lecturer in history. He is the author of The IRA 1926–36 and co-author of The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers’ Party.
4:30PM

Music and Poetry to conclude afternoon events.

Doors open for Part 2 at 7PM – Admission ticket is for the entire day.
Spanish Civil War Exhibition/Display on view all weekend

7:30PM The International Brigades and Dundalk Part 2.
Music with Colm Morgan

8:00PM
Charlie Donnelly by the Donnelly Family
Members of the Donnelly Family pay tribute to Charlie with stories, poetry and music.

08:45PM
Music with Colm

09:00 – 09:30PM
“JARAMA” - Short Film Directed by Alberto Pla of Madrid based band Boikot.
Features Irish actor James Devlin as Charlie Donnelly and Graham Burns as Peter O’Connor.

9:30PM
Sea Legs Collective
Locally based singers/musicians performing songs of Spain and freedom.

10:00PM
Calum Baird
Calum Baird is a young singer-songwriter and professional live musician from Edinburgh. Releases include Scottish Album of the Year 2016 nomination, No Right Turn.

"Like all good folk artists, Baird is both excellent lyrically and instrumentally." - The Pond.

"...soulful vocals so smooth it could make the most bitter of pills easier to swallow." - NHC Music.

"Calum Baird...has delivered an excellent debut album but live he is a revelation with a charisma and presence that gives his songs a whole new dimension." - The Morning Star.

www.CalumBaird.com

10:45PM
Music continues into the night with various performers.

International Brigaders from the Dundalk Area who died fighting against Fascism in the Spanish Civil War.

Charlie Donnelly - born in 1914 at Killybrackey, near Dungannon. He lived in Dundalk from 1917 before the family moved to Dublin in 1928. Charlie died on the 27th of February 1937 on the Jarama battlefield. The local town council in Rivas Vaciamadrid, near where Charlie died, has a memorial carn in his honour incorporating a stone from every county in Ireland. Many of his poems have been translated into Spanish.

Andrew Delaney - born in 1912 in Carlingford. His father was an RIC constable, originally from Wicklow, who had been stationed in Dundalk before transferring to Carlingford. Andrew emigrated in 1930, joining his brother John in Queens, New York. He returned in 1938 to fight alongside his comrades in the Lincoln Brigade at the Battle of the Ebro. Andrew was killed in April 1938.
Francis Duffy O'Brien, from Dundalk, joined the International Brigades and went to Spain from London. He died in 1938 in the Battle for Teruel.

Alexander Madero - born 1911 in Dundalk where he lived on Union Street. He died in hospital in Figueras in April 1938 as a result of wounds sustained.

Archie Doran was born in Harristown, near Ardee. His father was chairman of the Louth County Council from 1913-1918. After the war, the Doran family moved to England, settling in Somerset. Archie died near Suicide Hill in the Battle of Jarama, fighting with Harry Fry's machine-gun company.

Albert (Bert) McElroy also died at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937. He had a Dundalk address but is believed to have been originally from Fermanagh.

"We must never be afraid of idealists or cynical about an earlier generation's sacrifice for the sake of others. Solidarity is within everyone's reach " - Harry Owens

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Dundalk and the International Brigades in Spain