Seven men from the Shankill area of Belfast who joined the International Brigade in 1936 and fought in defence of the Spanish Republic have been honoured with a memorial plaque, unveiled in the Shankill Road Library on 1st February.
Around 275 men and women from all parts of Ireland joined the International Brigades in the fight against fascism taking on the forces of Franco, Hitler, Mussolini, big business and the Catholic Church.
The seven whose memory is now preserved in the commemorative plaque were William Beattie, Bill Henry, James Hillen, William Laughran, Joseph Lowry, Henry McGrath, and Andrew Molyneaux.
Among those who addressed the event were historian Dr. Connal Parr and Trade Union activist May Blood. The plaque was unviled by Freddie and Tommy McGrath, two Shankill residents and nephews of Harry McGrath, who was killed fighting for the Spanish Republic.
