Armagh meeting and exhibition - August 1st - 10th 2008
Photographic exhibition runs from August 1st-10th, Sherry’s Field, Armagh 1st Aug.
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.
This exhibition casts light on some of the background events that inspired local volunteers from places like Dungannon and Lurgan to make enormous sacrifices in order to confront fascism and to defend freedom and democracy in a faraway land.
Public Meeting
8pm Friday 1st August, Free
The activity is in Sherry's Fields, also known as the Cathedral Road Community Complex, Cathedral Road, Armagh.
A significant number of those who fought and died for the Spanish Republic came from Ireland and were made famous in Christy Moore’s version of the ballad ‘Viva La Quince Brigada’. Names like Bob Hillard, 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, West Armagh Festival will host a discussion evening on the legacy of the Civil War. 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. This event will be followed by a wine and supper reception with traditional music.
