The IRA, 1926-1936Although many books have been written about the IRA, little attention has been paid to the rank and file of the organization as well as the movement in 1930s Ireland. Thanks to the availability of records keep by Moss Twomey, leader from 1926 to 1936, much is now known. Twomey, as chief of staff, kept in his possession a vast quantity of correspondence, orders, and minutes from this particular period. Allied with the papers of such luminaries such as Sighle Humphreys, Séan MacEntee, Desmond FitzGerald, as well as a host of other people, a broad picture can be pieced together. Despite its military defeat in 1923 and the subsequent departure of members to Fianna Fáil, by its very existence through the period as an armed political force, dedicated to the overthrow of both states, the IRA remained a significant factor in Irish political life. As a result of this activity and the records that remain, we now know who was involved and at what level: membership numbers throughout Ireland (and in particular the Ulster counties) and to what degree these people were active for the cause, are discussed. We learn about Brian Corrigan in Mayo, Terry Ward in Derry, David Matthews in Belfast, and Seán McGuinness in Offaly, among many others. With many interesting facts and figures, this book could become the definitive account of the IRA in the 1930s. |
Common terms and phrases
1934 convention A/G to O/C Aiken papers argued arms Army Council arrested attack Barry Batt Battalion Belfast Blueshirts Bodenstown British campaign Catholic claimed Clan na Gael commemoration Communist Cork Cumann na mBan Cumann na nGaedheal D/T S Dáil Dublin Dublin Brigade election Fáil's Fianna Fáil FitzGerald papers Frank Ryan Galway Garda report Humphreys papers involved IRA leadership IRA members IRA officers IRA prisoners IRA's Irish Independent Irish Press jailed July June Kerry Champion Labour Leitrim Limerick MacEntee papers MacEoin MacSwiney Mayo McGarrity papers membership military MTUC MTUCDA National Nationalist Neenan Northern Ireland Notes on Events O'Donoghue O'Duffy Offaly organization parade party Peadar O'Donnell period Phoblacht policies political Protestant raids Republican Congress Saor Éire Seán MacBride Seán Russell Sept Sinn Féin strike Tipperary Tom Barry Tralee Twomey to McGarrity UCDA Ulster Valera violence Volunteers