Saturday,October 15, 2005
President of Ireland receives International Brigade veterans
and Prime Minister Ahern sends "Best Wishes to those great fighters"
The President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese, this morning received a courtesy
call at the Presidential Residence from four International Brigade veterans
of the Spanish Civil War - Liverpool veterans Jack James Larkin Jones (92)
and Jack Edwards (91), and the last two surviving Irish veterans, Bob Doyle
(89) and Michael O'Riordan (88). They have come together for the Annual General
Meeting of the International Brigade Memorial Trust, which is being held today
in Ireland for the first time, in Dublin's Liberty Hall, headquarters of Ireland's
largest labour union SIPTU.
The IBMT delegation also included those Executive Committee members related
to International Brigaders. The President spent 40 minutes in conversation
with the group, both collectively and individually, and had special words
of welcome for those whose fathers had been killed in Spain -- Deirdre Davey,
daughter of Bob Hilliard; Shirley Simon, daughter of Phil Morriss; and Martin
Green, son of George Green.
"There' s a man in Heaven who'd never forgive me if I'd been unable to receive
the International Brigaders!", were the President's opening words of welcome.
For it had been another International Brigader, the late Paddy McAllister
who died in 1998, who first stimulated her own interest in Spanish history
and culture when he worked in her father's bar during her Belfast youth.
The International Brigade Memorial Trust, of which Jack Jones is the founding
President , was formed by surviving International Brigade veterans, together
with relatives and friends who wished to commemorate their struggle against
fascism, and historians specialising in the Spanish Civil War. It's aims include
educating the public in the history of the men and women who fought in the
International Brigades; preserving and cataloguing valuable historical material
relating to their struggle and making it available to the public; and preserving,
maintaining and assisting in the construction of war memorials in their honour,
in both Britain and Ireland.
The AGM was preceded by a ceremony at 2.00 pm in front of the Liberty Hall
memorial to the Irish International Brigade volunteers who had given their
lives in defence of the Spanish Republic. The speakers were IBMT President
Jack Jones,SIPTU General President Jack O'Connor, and the General Secretary
of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, David Begg. The Roll of Honour of 72
Irish volunteers was read out by Manus O'Riordan, and a wreath was laid in
their memory by Deirdre Davey, daughter of the Reverend Robert M Hilliard,
Irish Republican and internationalist, who fell in the battle of Jarama.
Christy Moore sang "Viva la Quince Brigada!", the song that he had composed
in honour of those Irish dead, stating that it had been inspired by Michael
O'Riordan's book, "Connolly Column". It contains the memorable lines:
Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland pastor;
From Killarney across the Pyrenees he came.
From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother.
Side by side they fought and died in Spain.
Viva la Quince Brigada!
"No pasaran!" the pledge that made them fight.
"Adelante!" was the cry around the hillside.
Let us all remember them tonight.
In a message to the AGM, and in particular to the four surviving veterans
who were attending, the Irish Prime Minister, Mr Bertie Ahern, stated that
he wished "to send my best wishes to those great fighters", and "to salute
those who fought and died for democracy in Spain during the tragic civil war."
He had a special word of welcome for Liverpool veteran Jack James Larkin Jones,
who had gone on to become the General Secretary of Britain's Transport and
General Workers' Union during the 1970s. "His parents' decision to name him
after the great Big Jim Larkin no doubt set him on the right track from birth",
said the Prime Minister.
"The willingness of those who joined the International Brigade to sacrifice
all so that others could enjoy a democratic way of life is an inspiration
to us all, and the fact that Spain is today a leading democratic nation in
a strong and united Europe is no small tribute to them", the Prime Minister's
message concluded.
The weekend of events will culminate with a commemorative ceremony in Glasnevin
Cemetery at the graveside of Irish International Brigade leader Frank Ryan,
tomorrow (Sunday) at 12.30 pm, when the oration will be given by Manus O'Riordan,
the IBMT Executive Committee member for Ireland.
Message from the Irish Prime Minister, Mr Bertie Ahern, to the AGM of
the International Brigade Memorial Trust:
I am sorry that I cannot join you in person today. However, I wish to take
the opportunity of your Annual General Meeting to salute those who fought
and died for democracy in Spain during the tragic civil war.
In particular, I wish to send my best wishes to those great fighters Michael
O'Riordan, Bob Doyle, Jack Edwards and Jack Jones. Jack Edwards and Jack Jones
are no strangers to our shores and their presence here today reminds us yet
again of the strong ties between their home town of Liverpool and Ireland.
Jack Jones' contribution to the cause of international labour will be long
and widely remembered. His parents' decision to name him after the great Big
Jim Larkin no doubt set him on the right track from birth.
The willingness of those who joined the International Brigade to sacrifice
all so that others could enjoy a democratic way of life is an inspiration
to us all and the fact that Spain is today a leading democratic nation in
a strong and united Europe is no small tribute to them.
