Cork Evening Echo - on Spanish Civil War - extracts

Thursday, November 19 1936, Page 6
CORKMEN LEAVE FOR SPAIN
NOTABLE CAREERS - FORMER CAPTAIN IN NATIONAL ARMY

Three men left Cork this afternoon on the first stage of their journey to Spain where they are to join General O’ Duffy’s Irish Brigade in its fight against Communism. They are Capt. Thos. Hyde of Ballynacurra, Midleton, Co. Cork; Capt. Thos. O’ Riordan of Ballincurrig, Midleton, and M. Cagney, South Mall, Cork.

They left for Dublin on the evening mail and will then depart for Spain as soon as possible. They are to travel as private individuals until they reach Spain.

An “Evening Echo” reporter was informed in Cork, to-day, that it was more than likely that they would be made undergo some form of training before being allowed join in the fighting at Madrid. He was also told that at their own express wish, some of the survivors of the Alcazar disaster are to join the ranks of the Irish Brigade. NATIONAL ARMY OFFICERS

Capt. Hyde had a notable career in the I.R.A. since its inception. Following the signing of the treaty he was appointed Captain in the National Army, and was one of those officers who led the newly-formed force to the South. On his way to Millstreet he and his company were ambushed at Bruff, Co. Limerick, and he was one of the lucky survivors. At a later period he joined the Blueshirt movement, in which he also held the rank of Captain.

Locally he is a most popular figure and commercially he is owner of the local cinema. Capt. O’ Riordan had an equally notable record with the I.R.A. having figured in some of the principal engagements during the Anglo-Irish strife.

Like his colleague, he, too, was appointed Captain in the National Army, and was in command of the first troops which entered Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. The third member of the Cork contingent, M. Cagney, lacks the martial experience of the other two as he is not yet nineteen years old. He was educated at the Presentation Bros. College, Cork, and less than a year ago went to the Sunbeam Wolsey factory in Blackpool as an apprentice in the machinery department. When he informed his employers that he was going to Spain he was promised that his job would be open for him on his return.

At the height of the Blueshirt activities in Cork, he was leader of the juvenile section. About three weeks ago, his younger brother, Barry, went to Italy, to undergo five years’ training in a State military aviation college. He was invited to go by Signor Mussolini at the expense of the Italian Government, having been personally recommended by General O’ Duffy, who is a close friend of his father, Dr. P. Cagney. v There is also a small contingent leaving West Cork, to-day, en route for Dublin. They are James Roche, J. L. Boland, D. O’ Donoghue, and one other whose name could not be elicited. They are all from Bandon and members of the Blueshirt movement. They are going to Dublin by motor car.

One Corkman left for Spain, via Dublin, earlier in the week. He was Sean Twomey, the twenty-year-old son of a Shandon street pawnbroker, and, like agney, [sic] an ex-Presentation Brothers College boy.

Evening Echo - Tuesday, December 15, 1936, p. 5
THE IRISH BRIGADE. -Co. Tipperary Volunteers’ Departure For Spain.br>

The Mayor of Clonmel, Councillor E.V. White, was amongst the crowd who saw off the large party of young men who left Clonmel for Galway en route for Spain to serve with the forces under General Franco. The names of the volunteers are:- D. O’ Brien, 34 Cashel Road, Clonmel; J. O’ Grady, 19 Queen Street; H. Horan, 4 Peter Street; J. Walsh, 9 Glenegad Road; W. Dwyer, 28 River Street; J. Mulhall, 41 Upper Gladstone Street; P. Dwyer, 9 King Street; T. Conway, 14 William O’ Brien Street; P. Lambe, 14 The Flats, King Street; M. Dempsey, 14 William O’ Brien Street; T. Slater, 47 Garrymore; W. Roche, 7 King Street; J. Fitzgerald, 91 Irishtown; T. Shortiss, Newcastle; R. Prendergast, Wellington Street; M. O’ Brien, 33 Garrymore; Edward May, 19 Sarsfield Street; William Cronin, 14 Glenegad Road; J. Woods, Glenegad Road; J. Dillon, River Street; M. O’ Brien, Mitchel Street; W. Blackett, Old Bridge; W. Blake, Garrymore; - Kennedy, Coleville Road; S. O’ Donnell, Cahir.

Shortiss has had an adventurous career, having served with armies in various parts of the world. He fought on the Republican side in the Irish Civil War and was engaged in several campaigns with the Spanish and French Foreign Legions. He is a fluent speaker of Spanish.

Evening Echo - Thursday, December 17, 1936, p. 10
NEWS BREVITIES.

Volunteers For Franco.- Messrs Sean O’ Reilly, Nicholas Potts, and Daniel Ennis, all of Killinick, Co. Wexford, have left for Spain with General E. O’ Duffy’s Irish Brigade to fight with the Insurgent forces. A number of young men left Rosslare Harbour for Fishguard by the mail boat, having arrived by train at the port. It is believed that they were en route to Spain, but they refused to give any information about themselves. Most of them carried attaché cases, which appeared to be their sole luggage.

Evening Echo - Saturday, December 19, 1936, p. 7
THE IRISH BRIGADE. - A Clonmel Volunteer’s Letter From Lisbon.

In a letter addressed from Lisbon on December 2nd, to his parents in Clonmel, Councillor John O’ Brien who led the first contingent of Volunteers from Clonmel to join the patriot army in Spain said all were in good health and in the best of spirits. They were leaving for Spain he said on the following morning. It was not possible for him to give an address in Spain to which future correspondence could be sent and any letters from this on should be addressed care of Irish Brigade, 12 Pearse Street, Dublin.

Proceeding, the letter referred to the rumour that the Clonmel contingent had gone to the front line and said this was entirely false. “We may not be in action for about two or three months,” Councillor O’ Brien concluded.

Evening Echo - Tuesday, December 22, 1936, p. 2
GONE TO SPAIN - Case Against Man Adjourned At Carrick-on-Suir.

When a rural labourer named Nicholas Butler, summoned before Mr. McCabe at Carrick-on-Suir Court for drunkenness and disorderly conduct, was called the prosecution found said defendant had gone to Spain to fight.

Justice- On which side?

Guard- On the rebels’ side (laughter).

Justice- We will wait until he comes back (laughter).

When other cases of drunkenness were mentioned The Justice said it would be a good thing if defendants by going to Spain never came back (laughter).

[This man was a Sgt in D Company and is listed as returning on the Mozambique, June 1937, CC]

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