VIVA LA QUINTA BRIGADA

"Viva la Quinta Brigada" is a Christy Moore song about the Irishmen who fought in the Spanish Civil War against Franco. It`s about the Irish socialist volunteers, who were a small contingent within the 15th International Brigade, and who in later years became known as the Connolly Column.
Christy was inspired by Spanish Civil War veteran Michael O'Riordan's 1979 book Connolly Column.
He said: "Without Michael O'Riordan I'd never have been able to write Viva la Quince Brigada. I must have performed the song over a thousand times and every single time I sing it I think of Mick and wonder how can I ever thank him enough. In Spain in 1983 I was reading his book, Connolly Column – the story of the Irishmen who fought for the Spanish Republic, and I began this song as I read on. The song was lifted entirely from his book".