Scotland and the Spanish Civil War

In the 1930s hundreds of military volunteers from across Scotland joined the Spanish Civil War’s legendary International Volunteer brigade. Our upcoming Circle Studio show 549: Scots of the Spanish CivilWar follows four miners who leave their homes in East Lothian to join the conflict.  

549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War
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When author Mark Gillespie spotted the play in our Spring 2018 programme he got in touch to share his own connection to the International Volunteer Brigade. Mark’s great uncle, John Joseph Lynch, was one of the many Scottish volunteers that travelled to Spain to support the fight against fascism.

J.J.Lynch during his Royal Navy training. 

 

Mark has published a short book When the Gorbals fought Franco telling his great uncle's story. J.J.Lynch was born in Ireland but as a young boy his family moved to a tenement flat at 25 Hallside Place, in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. Aged just 20 he travelled to Europe where he fought in the battle of Jamara and Brunete - two of the bloodiest conflicts of the Spanish Civil War. In his book Mark explains how J.J.Lynch's experience growing up in the Gorbals shaped his political views.

When the Gorbals fought Franco.
  Buy a copy. 

If you'd like to find out more about J.J.Lynch's story you can buy a copy of When the Gorbals fought Franco for £5 in person at our Box Office or online now. 

549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War is presented by Wonder Fools in association with the Citizens Theatre and the Brunton Theatre. The play runs in our Circle Studio from 13 – 17 Feb. Tickets for most performances are now sold out. Visit citz.co.uk for more information on all our Spring 2018 productions.