A wreath laying ceremony and unveiling of a new plaque to commemorate the eleven
young men from Waterford who answered the call in 1936 to fight against Franco in the
Spanish Civil War took place on the Mall last Friday.

Speaking at the Memorial in the Garden of Bishop’s Palace Museum, Mayor Seamus Walsh
explained “In 1936, eleven young men from Waterford were amongst the 145 Irish men who
answered the call to fight against fascism and to defend a democratically elected
government in Spain. Those men were Frank Edwards, Jackie Hunt, Johnny Kelly, Harry
Kennedy, Jackie Lemon, Peter O’Connor, John O’Shea, Johnny Power, Paddy Power, Willie
Power, and Mossie Quinlan. The XVth International Brigade, comprised of some 45,000
volunteers from 54 countries, over 60 of whom, including Mossie Quinlan, made the ultimate
sacrifice of their lives on Spanish soil.

In 1994, Peter O’ Connor, the only Irish survivor of those who fought on the front was invited to Spain to speak. He talked of the need to remind the contemporary world of
what had happened in Spain: “When the vile creed of fascism is again raising its ugly head,
it is vital for the young people of today to learn the lesson taught in Spain – the great lesson
of unity. We need that unity more than ever today when fascism is on the rise all over the
world … We must again say no to racism and fascism. No Pasaran! Salud.”
Mayor Ryan unveiled a new plaque on Colbeck St. formerly the site of Waterford City Arms
and in the 1930s site of the old Sinn Féin Hall where on their return to Waterford, the Brigadistas
reunited with family and friends.

An exhibition featuring a series of panels with black and white images of the locations where the men from Waterford fought with the 15th International Brigade is on view in Waterford Central Library.

Pictured were Eoin Ronayne and Walter Croke. Photo: John Power

The images were photographed and edited by Eoin Ronayne, a Waterford born broadcast journalist formerly of WLR and RTÉ and recently retired trade union leader with Fórsa, CPSU and the NUJ. The exhibition is part of a project underkaten by Eoin on Waterford involvement with the 15th International Brigades and the revevance to Ireland today.

Admission to the exhibition is free. It runs until until May 6th.