A plaque commemorating Derry-born socialist republican Eamon McGrotty was unveiled on Friday at Lecky Road/Brow of the Hill. McGrotty joined the International Brigades in 1936 after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and was killed at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937 while defending the Spanish Republic.

The plaque is located near Brow of the Hill CBS, where McGrotty attended school. Members of the McGrotty family gathered for the unveiling and helped to put the plaque in place.

The unveiling was part of a day of events organised by Derry community arts organisation Féile to mark the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

Earlier in the day, the Gasyard Centre hosted a display of original Spanish Civil War items provided by the 1st Cavan Battalion reenactment group. The collection included original helmets, uniforms, equipment, badges, belt buckles, flags, posters and newspapers from the conflict.

Historian and author Dr Brian Hanley gave a talk titled From the Bogside to Jarama: The Irish who fought in Spain, examining Irish volunteers who joined the International Brigades and the political circumstances that led them to fight against Franco. A discussion chaired by Jim McVeigh followed.

At the Republican Monument on Lecky Road, the Martin McGuinness Cumann planted a tree to remember volunteers from Derry and the north west who fought with the International Brigades. McGrotty is also referenced in Christy Moore's song Viva la Quinta Brigada.