Home / Forward
The young people involved in the West Belfast & the Spanish Civil War project are to be congratulated for their interest and their work. It is important to recognise that West Belfast is NOT the centre of the universe, (it just seems like that!) that life here is affected by struggles elsewhere so that lessons must be learnt from those struggles and from the past.
West Belfast has changed dramatically over the years and it's important that young people look to see what lessons we can take from the past, because if we don't learn from those lessons, we might repeat some of historys mistakes.
By looking back to that period we can see that all our local history is not totally one of division and separation. West Belfast played a proud part in the common struggles of the 1930s. It saw the unemployed from the Shankill and the Falls unite in the unemployed struggles of 1932. From 1936-39 ten local men, from both religious backgrounds, went to Spain to fight for the cause of workers unity. Six of them died there fighting against fascism.
We can see in the members and supporters of the International Brigade that ordinary people can do tremendous things, when they have a cause to fight for.
Looking at this period of our history takes on an added significance because the Irish people who joined the International Brigades, provided medical support or other assistance to the Spanish Republic came from both of the main traditions on our Island. They united in a common cause in the interests of ordinary people. Their struggle needs to be remembered today given the resurgence of intolerance, injustice and racism throughout the world.
One thing the young people have also been able to see through this work, history is not always a straight forward thing, it's not always simple. West Belfast sent men to both sides of that war. Both sets of men were brave, were willing to put their lives on the line, etc.
This project shows us all that we must examine our common past, see what lessons we can draw from it, and build for the future. This is why we should all congratulate the young people of Corpus Christi Youth Club for their work.
— by Ciaran Crossey / Contact
Project Gallery
Below are a selection of photographs that were taken over the duration of the project:
