Viva La Quinta Brigada (Christy Moore song about the Irishmen who fought in the Spanish Civil War against Franco)
by C. Moore
Around the time I saw the light of morning A comradeship of heroes was laid From every corner of the world came sailing The Fifty 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 facists" The men of cloth had failed yet again When the Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Dun Laoghaire As 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 the Falls Jack Nalty, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy Jim Foley, Tony Fox and Dick O'Neill. (Chorus repeated)