Those were the days :)

Morlar

Came across this little gem :

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/garda-files1930s--mob-beat-communist-suspect-at-priests-instigation-1633120.html

I think it gives a nice insight into the interwar period in Ireland and a good indication of the general concern at that time regarding communism in Ireland.


By Shane Hickey

Monday February 09 2009

THE small number of communists in Ireland during the 1930s were rigorously tracked by the State at a time of extreme vigilance of political subversion.

New security files released by the Department of Justice illustrate the detailed surveillance carried out on members of the Communist Party of Ireland, thought to be only a few hundred people.

Garda files also show how a man was beaten and tarred after he was incorrectly labelled as a communist by a priest from the altar, the cleric himself being described as "not particularily well-balanced" by the investigating officer. John F Doyle, from Farranfore, in Co Kerry, a labour organiser, had tar poured over his head, face and eyes by four men, having been previously denounced by a Fr Galvin, a local priest, according to garda files.

However, there was no evidence found that the victim was a communist and he subsequently left the area.

"It is believed that all the people of the Currow parish regard him as a good riddance, and that being so, co-operation is not forthcoming," said a garda file.

The Catholic Church was a firm opponent of communism, illustrated by a resolution from the Federation of the Catholic Young Men's Society of Ireland which called for the suppression of left-wing beliefs and was subsequently sent to president Eamon de Valera.

Considerable resources were employed by detectives in detailing meetings and those attending, including tracking Irish people who travelled to Spain to fight on the republican sidein the civil war there between 1936 and 1939.

Detailed memos from the Commissioner of the Gardai were sent to the secretary of the Department of Justice on meetings as well as names and profiles of individuals.

One memo lists the names and addresses of Irish members of the International Brigade who served in Spain .

A group of communists were tackled by gardai when they brandished placards at the car of the German minister to Ireland, Wilhelm Von Kuhlmann, when he went to present his credentials to the President in 1934, a few months after Hitler had taken power.

The three shouted 'Down with Hitler' as the minister passed through the centre of Dublin, before one of them was arrested by gardai. Another protester had a placard with 'Away With Facist Murderers' written on the front.

- Shane Hickey

ejmaztec

Good old Catholic Church, always to be relied upon in a crisis, no matter how small.