Christy Moore, the famous Irish folk singer and composer, created this song, VIVA LA QUINCE BRIGADA about the Irishmen who went to Spain to fight against Franco and the fascists. It has been sung by many singers and groups since. Here are the lyrics to the song:

Ten year before I saw the light of morning A comradeship of heroes was laid From every corner of the world came sailing The Fifteen International Brigade.

They came to stand beside the Spanish people To try and stem the rising fascist tide Franco's allies were the powerful and wealthy Frank Ryan's men came from the other side.

Even the olives were bleeding As the battle for Madrid it thundered on Truth and love against the force of evil Brotherhood against the fascist clan.

Chorus: Viva la Quinta Brigada, No Pasaran, the pledge that made them fight Adelante! was the cry around the hillside Let us all remember them tonight.

Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland pastor Form Killarney across the Pyrenees he came From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother And side by side they fought and died in Spain.

Tommy Woods age seventeen died in Cordoba With Na Fianna he learned to hold his gun From Dublin to the Villa del Rio He fought and died beneath the Spanish sun. (Chorus)

Many Irishmen heard the call of Franco Joined Hitler and Mussolini too Propaganda from the pulpit and newspapers Helped O'Duffy to enlist his crew.

The call came from Maynooth, "support the Nazis" The men of cloth failed yet again When the Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Dun Laoghaire And they sailed beneath the swastika to Spain. (Chorus)

This song is a tribute to Frank Ryan Kit Conway and Dinny Coady too Peter Daly, Charlie Regan and Hugh Bonar Though many died I can but name a few.

Danny Boyle, Blaser-Brown and Charlie Donnelly Liam Tumilson and Jim Straney from Short Strand* Jack Nalty, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy Jim Foley, Tony Fox and Dick O'Neill. (Chorus repeated)

• (Note: originally the song says "from the Falls", a popular Belfast district, but in fact they were from Short Strand, a little Catholic enclave in East Belfast)