Charlie Donnelly
Biography
Charlie Donnelly was born in Killbrackey outside Dungannon, Co. Tyrone and was educated at the Christian Brothers' School. He went on to study at UCD where he founded the Student Vanguard, an anti-fascism.
In 1934, he left UCD to devote himself to politics and was arrested for picketing a factory. He then joined the Republican Congress where he became a member of the National Executive.
In 1935, Donnelly was once again arrested for partaking in a factory picket and on his release he went to London where he formed the London Branch of the Republican Congress. He also founded the newspaper the 'Irish Front' whilst working as a journalist on Fleet Street. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, Donnelly formed an Irish Brigade to fight in Spain.
On 27th February 1937, at the age of twenty-two Charlie Donnelly was killed at Jarama, Spain.