What was the Irish involvement in the Spanish Civil War?
About 700 Irish volunteers fought on the side of Franco during the Spanish Civil War. At sea, the volunteers were picked up by a German ship, flying the Nazi swastika and shipped over to fight in the civil war in Spain.
Why did the Irish fight for Franco?
In August 1936 General Eoin O’Duffy, the former Garda commissioner and Blueshirt leader, announced the formation of an Irish Brigade to fight for Franco. O’Duffy claimed he was motivated by the historic links between Ireland and Spain, anti-communism and the need to defend the Catholic Church.
Did the Irish support Franco?
A joint pastoral of the Irish bishops firmly supported Franco. By late 1936 some 7,000 men had volunteered, of whom about 700 were selected, and in November 1936 these sailed to Spain, where they became the XV Bandera (battalion) of the Spanish Foreign Legion, or “Irish Brigade”.
Why are Fine Gael called the blue shirts?
The group provided physical protection for political groups such as Cumann na nGaedheal from intimidation and attacks by the anti-Treaty IRA. Most of the political parties whose meetings the Blueshirts protected would merge to become Fine Gael, and members of that party are still sometimes nicknamed “Blueshirts”.
Who did the Irish support in the Spanish Civil War?
Public opinion in Ireland generally supported the Nationalist side, mainly because they had the support of the Catholic Church in Spain. Over 700 Irishmen served as part of the Spanish Foreign Legion, many of them veterans of the Blueshirt movement of the early 1930s in Ireland.
Who won the Spanish Civil War?
Nationalists
The Nationalists won the war, which ended in early 1939, and ruled Spain until Franco’s death in November 1975.
Who did the Irish Brigade fought for?
The Irish Brigade was an infantry brigade, consisting predominantly of Irish Americans, that served in the Union Army in the American Civil War. The designation of the first regiment in the brigade, the 69th New York Infantry, or the “Fighting 69th”, continued in later wars.
What does Fine Gael mean in Irish?
Fine Gael (/ˌfiːnə ˈɡeɪl, ˌfɪn-/, Irish: [ˌfʲɪnʲə ˈɡeːl̪ˠ]; English: “Family (or Tribe) of the Irish”) is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland.
How is the Spanish Civil War remembered in Ireland?
“The Spanish Civil War is now remembered in Ireland as a conflict between democracy and fascism rather than Christianity and communism. As a result, the veterans of the International Brigades have gradually come to be regarded as heroes, while the Irish Brigade’s crusaders have been forgotten or are reviled as supporters of fascism.
Who was an Irish soldier in the Spanish army?
O Donnell’s regiment was drafted into service in Spain itself in 1638 and thus out of service in Flanders. It had a distinguished record in Spain. Regiment of Thomas Preston. This was formed by a former subordinate of Owen Roe O Neill, starting in 1632. It is included in the overall complement of the four Irish Tercios of 7000 in 1636.
How many Irish soldiers went to Spain in 1653?
1653-54 saw a great influx of Irish soldiers into Spain, as a result of losing the war back in Ireland to Cromwell. About 14000 went to Spain itself, but about 2300 went to Flanders. The regiment of D. Costello was one of these, with 732 men. Regiment of Kannan.
Who was in the Irish Brigade in the Civil War?
While many of the officers were aligned with O’Duffy’s political party, the majority of his force were not NCP members but former Blueshirts still loyal to the general. Some were former IRA or National Army men, like O’Duffy veterans of the pro- Treaty, side of the Irish Civil War.