International Brigade Memorial Trust
We are pleased to announce that the local International Brigade Commemoration Committee (IBCC) organisation is hosting the Annual General Meeting weekend for the IBMT from 3-5 October 2025 in Belfast.
The IBMT represents relatives and supporters of those International Brigaders from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales who fought against fascism in Spain 1936-39.
We are inviting relatives of Brigaders and individuals and organisations who have previously supported the IBCC, either by attending, speaking or performing at events or by giving financial support, to come along to the IBMT AGM and events.
We are preparing a programme for the weekend which will begin with the opening event in Belfast City Hall on Friday evening on 3 October.
We are planning a bus tour of Belfast murals on Saturday 4 October in the morning, taking in an exhibition of IBCC posters in the Shankill Road Library.
The AGM itself will be held in the afternoon in the Unite offices, 26-34 Antrim Road, Belfast BT15 2AA.
The Dockers Club, 57 Pilot Street, Belfast BT1 3AH is booked for a social later that evening. A number of people have agreed to sing for us.
Stained glass window in Belfast City Hall honouring local International Brigade volunteers.
Most of these events will be on Eventbrite from early August as we will need to know numbers etc.
When the IBMT held its first AGM in Belfast in 2007, the Belfast & District Trades Union Council, along with others, was instrumental in the placing of the memorial in Writers Square. It was unveiled by Brigaders Bob Doyle, Jackie Edwards and Jack Jones and sponsored by the IBCC. Sadly, these Brigaders are no longer with us, but we hope that their relatives, friends and supporters will be.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer to pay for accommodation or travel. There are Premier Inn hotels in the city centre in Waring Street and Alfred Street (avoid the hotel in the Titanic Quarter unless you are driving), an Ibis Hotel in Castle Street, plus other city centre options.
We approached the Ramada Hotel (20 Talbot Street, Belfast BT1 2LD). They are offering a 20 per cent discount; some of the other hotels might be cheaper.
We hope to have the AGM weekend programme ready towards the end of August.
For further information, text 07751951785 or email lyndaernest@btinternet.com
In friendship and solidarity,
Lynda Walker & Luke O’ Riordan: IBMT Joint Secretaries for Ireland
Ciaran Crossey: Chairperson IBCC
Ernest Walker, Secretary IBCC
Foreground from left: Brigaders Jack Jones, Bob Doyle and Jackie Edwards at the unveiling of the International Brigade memorial in Writers Square in 2007.
