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2/6/1937: the 15th International Brigade, with volunteers from
23 nations (including the Lincoln
Batalion) fought the fascists/Nazis in the valley of Jarama, southeast of Madrid. It was a stalemate,
but a very bloody one. {from The Spanish Civil War, David Mitchell, 1982, p86}
Who will call the meeting now
and who will take the chair?
Who will call us out on strike,
demand an equal share?
For Johnny, brave young Johnny,
in Ireland can't remain,
He's gone to fight the Fascists
in the Civil War in Spain.
And if fascist bullets won't permit
our wild geese to come home
Their heavy loss in this country
we'll never cease to mourn,
They fought for the Connolly Column
in the brave 15th Brigade
And died for Spanish workers
in the Civil War in Spain.
"The Connolly Column," A song about the Irish Trade
Unionists in the Spanish Civil War; written by Joe
Mulheron.
[thanx John Moulden at Ulstersongs,
where these things are available as broadsheets.]
(And also, Viva la Quince Brigada! .... Rhumbala, baby!)
On the other hand (there seem to be 20 or 30 hands here) a greater number of Irish volunteers
seem to have been fighting in the Irish Brigade that supported Franco - that is, the Irish fascists
under the blueshirt Eoin O'Duffy.
© Abby Sale - all rights reserved
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