East Wall development to be named after local Republican Jack Nalty

A new apartment development in East Wall will be named after Jack Nalty, an Irish man who volunteered in the International Brigade to fight against General Franco in the Spanish Civil War.

The decision was made in a December Central Area Committee meeting after a proposal tabled by Independent councillor Nial Ring was unanimously agreed by elected representatives.

Jack Nalty, who was a local of East Wall, was the last Irish volunteer to die during the Spanish Civil War in 1938 after returning to the field of battle to rescue two British volunteers.

“The original name put forward by the developer for this complex was Riverside Place and, at our area meeting in October, we asked that this be reconsidered as it seemed bland and insipid,” councillor Ring said.

“A further name of East Wall place was then suggested and received an equally dismissive response from local councillors.

“We were then asked for our suggestions, which is something we have been looking for in all developments,” he said.

Ring says that with the help of local historians, Jack Nalty’s name was found to be an appropriate suggestion.

“I contacted some fellow local historians in the area (Joe Mooney and Hugo McGuinness) and we agreed that I would put the name Jack Nalty forward for consideration, given that Jack was an East Wall man and was the last Irish volunteer in the International Brigades to die in the Spanish Civil War on 23rd September 1938,” he says.

“Jack Nalty was only 36 years old when he died.

“He spent most of his life living at East Road where a plaque was erected a few years ago.

“He had been a pupil at our local school, and had worked briefly at the Dublin Dockyard Company, and afterwards for an oil company in Dublin Port.

“He was the ITGWU shop steward for 600 workers in the Port.

“He was also a champion runner with the Dublin Harriers and had competed for his country in cross-country competition” Ring said.

Aside from fighting in the Spanish Civil War, Nalty was also a republican who fought in both the Irish War of Independence and Civil War.

“In 1936 he was part of the first group of Irish Volunteers to travel and join the International Brigades, formed to defend Spanish democracy against a fascist coup,” says Ring.

“He was badly wounded in the early days of conflict, but after recuperating in Ireland he returned to action and died at the Battle of the Ebro on the final day of combat, as did fellow Dubliner Liam McGregor.

“The 15th International Brigade was withdrawn from the frontline the following day.

“His body is one of the thousands which still lie under Spanish soil, but he will never be forgotten and, having Jack Nalty House in East Wall named after him will be a permanent and fitting reminder of this great local hero”.