Spanish sacrifice to be remembered

New Ross Standard 11th June 2008

IN RECOGNITION of the sacrifice made by Kilkenny-man George Brown, who was killed during the Spanish Civil War, there will be a Commemorative Weekend in Inistioge on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28.George Brown was a Manchester working-class activist and member of the XV International Brigade, who was killed in action at the Battle of Brunete in the Spanish Civil War.

IN RECOGNITION of the sacrifice made by Kilkenny-man George Brown, who was killed during the Spanish Civil War, there will be a Commemorative Weekend in Inistioge on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28.

George Brown was a Manchester working-class activist and member of the XV International Brigade, who was killed in action at the Battle of Brunete in the Spanish Civil War.

His parents, Francis Brown and Mary Lackey, who came from Inistioge and Ballyneale, Tullogher, respectively, emigrated to England in the early twentieth century and settled in the Manchester area. His mother Mary Brown returned to her native South Kilkenny in 1906 for the birth of George. The weekend will involve lectures in St Mary's Church of Ireland in Inistioge, the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in the adjoining graveyard, and a tree-planting ceremony at Woodstock Gardens.

The occasion will also be marked by the launch of a publication on the life of George Brown. This will firmly locate the man in his life-long struggle to better working and living conditions of the working man, detail his Inistioge/ Tullogher connections, and acknowledge his ultimate sacrifice in the struggle against Fascism.

The launch will be by Bob Doyle, another comrade of George Brown and last-surviving International Brigade Volunteer.

A Spanish Civil War Photographic Exhibition will be located in St Mary's and following the weekend, a DVD will be produced for sale. It will not only feature highlights of the events but also show picturesque Inistioge at its very best.

On the Friday at 8 p.m. there will be a lecture by Manus O'Riordan, Committee Member of International Brigade Memorial Trust and Head of Research with SIPTU, in St Mary's Church of Ireland, Inistioge and the launch of the publication on George Brown by Bob Doyle.

Saturday at 11.30 a.m. will see a lecture on Battle for Madrid by Harry Owens, a Spanish Civil War Historian, in St Mary's Church of Ireland, Inistioge and at 12.30 p.m. there will be the unveiling of the George Brown Memorial in St Mary's Graveyard by Jack Jones. The main speaker at this will be Tony Woodley, General Secretary of T&G UNITE.

This will be followed by commemorative event, including tree planting, at the Olive Grove, Woodstock Gardens and a Spanish Civil War Photographic Exhibition in St Mary's.

Graiguenamanagh Brass Band will attend the unveiling and will entertain visitors in the Square during the afternoon. Social events will also take place in Inistioge on Friday and Saturday nights.