Address by Severiano Montero
Dear Friends:
I come from Spain, the land where Kit lies. Why does he rest there and not
here, in his country? I believe because of his personal decision. I explain
it in short.
He wanted to go to Spain to fight the rising Fascism; he wanted to help the
Spanish people to defend the republican democracy and, last but not least,
he wanted to fight for social justice, in favour of poor people
traditionally oppressed by upper classes and landed gentry.
He knew the risks of that decision. Before leaving Ireland he said: "Sooner
than Franco's forces should win, I would leave my body to manure the Spanish
fields". And so it happened.
* He fought like a brave soldier in Cordoba, Madrid and in the Jarama
valley.
* He led his comrades in the battle as an intelligent and human
leader.
* He gave example to his men of how to behave in the most critical
situation.
He died like a hero. When he was mortally wounded, with a terrible pain in
his face and in his head, he forgot himself and gave his last message: "Do
your best, boys. Hold on!" How to forget this example!
Tipperary is far from Madrid. I think that thanks to men as Kit, Bob, Mick,
and more than 200 Irishmen who went to Spain to fight Fascism, Ireland and
Spain are closer. This soil I took last Thursday from the site where Kit
died, at the Suicide Hill, symbolizes the link for freedom between both
Irish and Spanish people. I will spread it beside this monument.
Other speeches/reports of the memorial's unveiling
Opening comment and report by Manus O'Riordan
Speech by Mick O'Riordan
Comments by Bob Doyle
Words of song by Manus O'Riordan