- Dublin City Council unveiled the Inchicore Spanish Civil War Memorial at Richmond Barracks on 26 September 2026
- The memorial commemorates seven Inchicore men: Tony Fox, Joe Haines, Mick May, Paddy McElroy, Liam McGregor, Joe Monks and Bill Scott
- The event brought together families, Dublin City Council, FIBI, historians and invited guests
- Approximately 35,000 men and women from around 80 countries served in the International Brigades, including at least 240 Irishmen
- The ceremony included wreath laying, music from the Dublin Brass Band, a contribution from Fionnuala Flanagan and music from Christy Moore
Dublin City Council has unveiled the Inchicore Spanish Civil War Memorial at Richmond Barracks, commemorating seven Inchicore men who joined the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron, in honour of Tony Fox, Joe Haines, Mick May, Paddy McElroy, Liam McGregor, Joe Monks and Bill Scott. The event brought together the families of the seven men, Dublin City Council, Friends of the International Brigades in Ireland (FIBI), historians and invited guests for an evening of remembrance and reflection.
The seven men came from an Inchicore community shaped by the railway, its trade union history and the allegiance railway workers had for one another. Those values of solidarity and collective responsibility formed part of the world they knew at home and were among the values they carried with them when they travelled to Spain. In the 1930s, as political conflicts intensified across Europe and beyond, the seven men joined the 15th International Brigade in support of the Spanish Republic and in opposition to Franco’s forces.
The Spanish Civil War had a divisive impact on Irish political life. In the newly independent Irish Free State, debate about Spain was difficult to avoid. Public opinion was supportive of Franco, as were the Catholic bishops and much of the press. Those Irishmen who fought against Franco were consequently not widely celebrated at home, except within Irish trade union circles, folk culture and the conversations of local communities such as Inchicore. Approximately 35,000 men and women from around 80 countries signed up to serve, including at least 240 Irishmen, around 70 of whom would never return home.
Of the seven Inchicore men commemorated by the new memorial, three died and four survived. The outdoor ceremony included the unveiling of the memorial, the laying of wreaths by family representatives and music from the Dublin Brass Band. The programme featured a contribution from actress Fionnuala Flanagan, followed by music from Christy Moore. Those attending the event enjoyed a commemorative display of flags, memorabilia, historic newspapers, books and other material relating to the Spanish Civil War and International Brigades.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron shared “This memorial provides a lasting place in Inchicore to remember Tony Fox, Joe Haines, Mick May, Paddy McElroy, Liam McGregor, Joe Monks and Bill Scott, and to ensure that their stories continue to be shared with future generations. Their experiences connect Inchicore to a defining international conflict of the 1930s and to a complex chapter in Irish political and social history. It is especially fitting that their families and the wider community can come together at Richmond Barracks to remember them.”
