Ireland and the Spanish Civil War

by McGarry, Feargal

• ISBN13: 9781859182406
• ISBN10: 1859182402
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-02-01
• Publisher: Cork Univ Pr

Summary

This book is the first to document the response of the Irish Free State to the Spanish Civil War. It is also the story of the military intervention of just under one thousand Irishmen who fought on opposing sides of that war -- a story which has been the source of much curiosity, and controversy. Political extremism in the Irish Free State, of the far left, far right and republicanism motivated this exodus and is an area of increasing popular and historiographical interest. However, these questions have more often been considered in an Irish context rather than as a part of the ideological struggle which gripped Europe in the 1930's.

Many aspects of the intervention of the Irish men are questioned in this book, namely O'Duffy's involvement in Spain, his anti-communism and zealous Catholicism. McGarry does not take for granted the presumption that the Irish volunteers simply followed the lead of their charismatic commander in chief. Equally the motives of the Irish in the International Brigades, fighting for democracy and anti-fascism are revealed as far more

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgements	viii
Abbreviations	ix
Introduction	1	(16)
Part I. Volunteers
The Irish Brigade	17	(31)
The International Brigades	48	(37)
Part II. Interest Groups
Republican and Socialist Responses	85	(24)
The Irish Christian Front	109	(26)
The Catholic Church	135	(38)
Part III. Politics and Policy
Party Political Responses	173	(33)
Diplomatic Policy	206	(28)
Epilogue	234	(11)
Appendix 1: International Brigades	245	(4)
Appendix 2: Irish Brigade	249	(10)
Appendix 3: The Irish Brigade Command	259	(1)
Notes and references	260	(46)
Chronology	306	(2)
Bibliography	308	(7)
Index	315