18th Annual George Brown

Memorial Event 2023.

 

Inistioge-born George Brown fought with the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) in defence of the democratically elected Spanish government, paying for his beliefs with his life at the Battle of Brunete in July 1937. Fittingly, the well-attended eighteenth annual George Brown Memorial Event saw the three invited speakers warn against the threats to democracy and the rise of extreme nationalism and totalitarianism throughout much of the Western world.

Military historian, Larry Scallan, Commandant (Retired) in the Irish Army, in an engaging delivery dealt with the fortunes of the United Nations Organisation over the eighty years since its establishment in June 1945, its achievements, its challenges, and Ireland’s contribution. In his opinion, the greatest challenge comes from within, principally the power of veto held by the five permanent members of the Security Council and the frequency with which this power is used by both Russia and the United States in protecting their own interests and allies. This, unless dispensed with, he believes, will result in the organisation being moribund, and, from the Irish point of view, he suggests a reassessment of the ‘Triple Lock’.

Harry Owens, a regular contributor on various aspects of the Spanish Civil War at the George Brown event, on this occasion changed tack, speaking about the difficulties posed for Irish unification in light of the popular support for military neutrality. In an argument, interspersed with supporting and interesting anecdotes, Harry highlighted instances of cooperation between the Dublin and Stormont administrations, especially during World War II, and suggested that only through such efforts could progress be made. 

While the first two talks were delivered in the historic St Mary’s Church of Ireland, the afternoon session was located in the verdant Woodstock Gardens. At the Olive Grove within the Walled Garden, former UNITE the Union official, Seán Kelly paid tribute to, probably the best remembered Irish volunteer in the International Brigades, Michael O’Riordan, whose son, the late Manus, and his daughter Brenda were prominent supporters of the George Brown Commemoration in its early years. He was followed by Wexford Labour Party Deputy, George Lawlor TD. In a wide-ranging address, he dealt with the many current issues in international affairs that Ireland has to adopt a position on. These included Russian and Israeli aggression, and the role of the current United States administration. While European countries in general had no problem in condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and backing this up with swingeing sanctions, it would appear for some of these same countries there is no such thing as ‘a red line’ when it comes to Israeli actions which to Ireland, and a number of other countries, can only be described as ethnic cleansing and genocide.

While all three speakers were totally at liberty to express their own views, there were a number of striking similarities. While Ireland’s stance on neutrality figured prominently in all deliveries, none suggested it should be abandoned, the majority view being that we must invest realistic funds in defence in the areas of technology, surveillance, equipment and training. The speakers were at one on their view of Trump’s America. It was felt that its very unpredictability could threaten the future of the United Nations and was, if anything, encouraging Israeli aggression.

The final event in Woodstock Gardens was the planting of two specimen trees, one in memory of Mrs Maura O’Neill of Brownsford, whose son, Tom is chairperson of the Inistioge George Brown Memorial Committee, and the second, in memory of the committee’s first chairperson, Jim Walsh, of Inistioge. His widow, Carmel spoke movingly of Jim’s commitment to keeping George Brown’s memory alive, and his love of his native place.

As has been the tradition, the commemoration came to a conclusion back at the Square in the village where all were treated to a recital by the Graiguenamanagh Brass Band followed by a music session with popular local singer/guitarist, Caoimhe Kelly.