They came from across Ireland and fought against fascism in the 1930s as part of the International Brigades.

At the weekend, their role in the fight against Franco on the side of Spain's ousted republican government was marked in Belfast.

A display of memorabilia and photographs relating to the defeated republican side is on display in the Linen Hall Library.

It is thought 78 of the 2,000 left-wing idealists from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth who fought against Franco came from Northern Ireland.