Sunday, November 22nd, 2020

The Spanish Civil War of 1936-1938 is regarded by many as the opening act for the Second World War. From the Irish perspective it is viewed sometimes as a continuation of the Irish Civil War of 1922-1923  with Irish volunteers traveling to Spain and joining both sides of the conflict. According to John Dorney about 700 Irish volunteers fought for the right wing fascist side led by Francisco Franco which today tends to be the cause of much embarrassment in Ireland. He notes that greater attention is paid to the much smaller number of Irish volunteers who fought for the left wing or republicans. However, in the 1930’s the right wing cause was more popular in Ireland as it was perceived as a “crusade” against communism to support the Catholic religion.  (John Dorney, “God’s Battle: O’Duffy’s Irish Brigade in the Spanish Civil War: The Irish Unit that Fought for Franco in 1936-37,”  available at https://www.theirishstory.com/2018/10/24/gods-battle-oduffys-irish-brigade-in-the-spanish-civil-war/#.X7lfAM37RPY .)

The Spanish civil war began brewing in 1931 when the Spanish monarchy was peacefully overthrown. A Republic was established and intense class conflict and political polarisation between the right and left undermined democratic principles. In 1934 after the election of a right wing government in the northern province of Asturias worker’s revolted. The revolt was suppressed as was Catalonia’s declaration of independence. During the 1936 election in February, several left wing parties worked together and formed the Popular Front and won the election. In July 1936 a section of the Spanish Army mounted an attack on the Popular Front government. Spain descended into a civil war which Dorney described as an “international battleground between ideologies of left and right, depicted on one side as a war for democracy against fascism and on the other for western civilisation against communism.” The right wing or Nationalist side led by Franco was supported by Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. The Republic was backed by the Soviet Union and the communist movement.  For photos taken during the Spanish Civil War, see, David Sims (2017) “Spanish Civil War: 50 Powerful Photos of the Horrific Conflict,” in International Business Times, available at https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/spanish-civil-war-anniversary-50-powerful-photos-horrific-conflict-1630676 .

In 1936 the Irish clergy and the Irish Christian Front staged rallies across Ireland in support of Franco. Many volunteered to fight in God’s battle against communism in Spain. Eoin O’Duffy led the Irish volunteers for Franco. O’Duffy had been an IRA commander in Monaghan during the Irish War of Independence. He supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty, served as a Free State army general and Garda Commissioner until 1933 when he was fired by Eamon de Valera. O’Duffy became the leader of the Blueshirt movement a semi-fascist group. Due to his increasingly extreme views O’Duffy became politically isolated and is believed to have recruited men to join in the Spanish Civil War to boost his own political prospects.

The Irish Independent on Saturday the 12^th of December 1936 reported that 100 more volunteers left Dublin last night for Liverpool, to travel to Spain, where the volunteers were to join the Irish Brigade under General O’Duffy. This was the biggest contingent that set out to assist the “Patriot Forces.” The newspaper noted that the volunteers came from 18 counties and also included three volunteers from Liverpool and one from London. Included in the list were 3 Kilkenny men… William Greene, Deerpark, Mullinavat; R. Fluskey, Glenmore; and Joseph F. Doyle, Kiltown, Castlecomer. A much shorter article appear in the Kilkenny People on Saturday the 26^th of December 1936 (p. 8) and provided that Mr. R. Fluskey, Glenmore “…has gone to Spain to fight with the forces of General Franco, is a native of Mile Bush, Rosbercon.” The newspaper incorrectly recorded that the R initial was for Robert.

Shipping records provide that the steamship Ardeola, of the Yeoward Line, left Liverpool on the 12^th of December 1936 for Lisbon, Portugal, under Captain A.E. Jones. Richard “Dick” Fluskey and 20 other volunteers were on board the Ardeola and traveling 1^st Class. The ship register provides that Mr. R. Fluskey, of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, was 24 years of age and his profession was listed as farmer. In the group of 21 volunteers are two other local men:  Mr. W. Greene of Deerpark, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny, was 29 years of age, a farmer; and Mr. J. Ivory, of Ballyglen, Dunmore East, Waterford, was 26 years of age and also a farmer.

Danny Dowling yesterday was able to immediately identify that “Dick” Fluskey went to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War. He wasn’t in Spain very long and when he returned he did not get a great reception. According to John Dorney all of the Irish Brigade, save one man, were back in Ireland by 21 June 1937. Danny Dowling stated that Dick Fluskey, upon his return, stayed with Jim Fluskey in Glenmore Village. Danny wasn’t sure of the exact relationship between the two men, but did recall that Jim Fluskey wasn’t very happy with Dick. Dick went to Swansea in Wales and died shortly after his arrival in Wales. Danny stated that Dick Fluskey was a young man when he died and was ill when he left Ireland.

A newspaper article appeared in the Kilkenny People In 1939 which recited that Robert Fluskey, of Glenmore, had been denied permission to keep pigs in “the yard” due to sanitary concerns. He believed that with the outbreak of the second World War that a food shortage would occur. Danny Dowling stated yesterday that it was around this time that the Fluskey piggery was built behind Jim B’s cottage in Glenmore Village just above where the current pub is now located.

It is believed that Richard “Dick” Fluskey was a brother of the two girls that James Fluskey and his wife raised when the mother of the girls died. Both girls became nuns. For details concerning the Fluskey family see, our previous blog post on Robert Fluskey (1843-1925) at https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-businessman-robert-fluskey-1843-1925-and-the-sisters-of-charity-of-the-incarnate-word/. Armed with a place of death for Richard “Dick” Fluskey, we were able to find a death record for Richard Fluskey. He died on the 28^th of September 1942 in Pembrokeshire, Wales.  His age is incorrectly recorded as 27 when he was actually 35 years of age. It is not known what Fluskey was doing in Wales.

The following obituary was published in the Munster Express, on Friday the 2^nd of October 1942, (p. 3) for Richard “Dick” Fluskey.

LATE MR. R. FLUSKEY—At a joint meeting of the Glenmore L.D.F. and L.S.F., a vote of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Richard Fluskey, whose death occurred in England on Monday evening. The deceased took a leading part in the organisation of the L.D.F. and L.S.F. in Glenmore, and held the position of Group Leader in the L.D.F. up to the time of his departure to England twelve months ago. He also served with the Irish Brigade in Spain during the Civil War, and held a non-commissioned rank in the National Army before his departure to Spain. His efficiency as an organiser was responsible for the standard of proficiency attained by the L.D.F. in Glenmore at the moment. His passing at such an early age has caused sincere regret in his native county, and especially among his comrades in the L.D.F and L.S.F., he having being a verv honourable and straightforward leader. The dance to be held at Walsh’s Hall on Sunday night next in aid of the Glenmore L.D.F. has been postponed to Sunday night. Nov. 4. as a mark of respect for the death of their former Group Leader, Richard Fluskey.

After the outbreak of the Second World War in May 1940 the Local Security Force (LSF) was established. The following month the LSF was split into two groups. One group was an auxiliary to the Army while the other group was an auxiliary to the Gardai. This second group became the Local Defence Force (LDF) and was organized based on the previous Garda districts and division. For a concise article on Ireland during the Second World War see, Bryce Evans (2015)  at http://www.1940.co.uk/acatalog/Ireland-in-WW2.html.

For further information concerning the Spanish Civil War see, Paul Preston (2012) The Spanish Holocaust: Inquisition & Extermination in Twentieth-Century Spain. A concise book review is available at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/mar/09/spanish-holocaust-paul-preston-review .

Today, we do not know why Richard “Dick” Fluskey joined O’Duffy’s Irish Brigade. Was he a fascist, was he a bored young man looking for excitement, or did he go there to fight the enemies of the Church? Given his activities after returning from the Spanish Civil War it does not seem likely that he was a fascist. On the other hand, he had two sisters and three cousins in a religious order. It appears more likely that he enlisted to fight the enemies of the Church or to protect the priests and nuns of Spain.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

[UPDATE: Another local man identified. Elizabeth “Cissy” Kennedy (aged 90) a native of Rathinure, Glenmore stated on 28 November 2020 that Jimmy Morrissey from Tullogher also went out to the Spanish Civil War, she believed that he fought for Franco. When he returned to Ireland he went out with Celia Heffernan, of Kearneybay, Glenmore for a long time.]

[Update: Special thanks to Michael Hoynes for sharing the photo of “the Glenmore LDF under the command of Richard Fluskey.”]