Badge commemorates Kilcullen hero in Spanish Civil War
The Frank Conroy Committee has designed a badge to mark the 90th anniversary of the death of Spanish Civil War hero Frank Conroy, writes Mick Healy. Conroy, a Kilcullen man, was killed in 1936 while fighting with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War.
On Saturday, 22 June 2019, Christy Moore unveiled a plaque to Conroy, presented to the Kilcullen Heritage Centre by the Friends of the International Brigades Ireland. The singer took to the stage on the occasion to give an impromptu performance of four songs, including Viva La Quince Brigada. In the final verse, Moore names Frank Conroy, his fellow county man, “who fought and died for democracy in Spain."
Frank Conroy was born on 25 February 1914 in Kilcullen. At a young age, he joined the IRA. Later, he became involved with the Republican Congress. Frank was active in street battles against the far right, and around this time, he volunteered to join the International Brigade, determined to defend the Spanish Republic against the Fascist rebellion. This former IRA volunteer, then a member of the Republican Congress, set sail on the Holyhead ferry on 13 December 1936, alongside other Irish volunteers of the International Brigade.
At Lopera in Córdoba, the Irish in the new International Brigades went into action on 28 December 1936. The fighting here was fierce. Frank Conroy was killed, as were Johnny Meehan, Henry Boner, Jim Foley, Tony Fox, Leo Green, Michael Nolan, Michael May, and Tommy Woods.
The badges will be available shortly at Kilcullen Heritage Centre.
