Belfast's AGM

Lynda Walker writes…

The Belfast-based International Brigade Commemoration Committee held its annual general meeting in the Falls Road Library on Saturday 11 February. 

The annual lecture was a combined event with Ernest Walker speaking about Clem Beckett’s road to Spain and Ciaran Crossey gave a talk about the Irish volunteers with specific reference to the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Jarama. 

The audience reflected upon the fact that 12  February marked the death of many of the International Brigaders including Beckett and also the 21st birthday of Bob Doyle, whose close friends were killed in the battle. 

The play ‘Dare Devil Rides to Jarama’ was performed on 13 February in Belfast. It was brilliant. After initial fears that we would not get a big audience it all came together and we had a memorable night.

At their AGM, members of the IBCC pledged once again to keep alive the memory and the principles that the Brigaders fought for.

It was announced that on 27 April, as part of the May Day events, the IBCC would be holding a lecture and presentation, ‘History and Memory of the International Brigaders’, by Dr Daniel Kowalsky.

The meeting on 11 February also gave a special mention Joe Law, who died suddenly in 2016. He was an IBCC supporter for many years.

Afterward flowers were laid at the memorial in Writers Square, where committee member Paddy Mackel said some fine words in memory of our comrades.

Posted on 14 February 2017.