Other Forces

Irish/Spanish Republican.

Communist Party of Ireland.

Michael ("Red Mick") O'Riordan in the uniform of the Spanish Republic, 1936. A member of the IRA and (some would say paradoxically) of the Communist Party of Ireland from 1935, Michael O'Riordan was one of the small (but necessarily determined) group of Irishmen who answered the call of the Spanish Republic for international volunteers in 1936. Along with the other Irish volunteers, he served in the "English" 15th International Brigade, which was generally composed of British, US, Canadian and other English-speaking Internationalists. This was a much more determined bunch than O'Duffy's "Blueshirt" Nationalist volunteers. They served through the entire period of activity of the 15th Brigade, and suffered substantial losses in the process. O'Riordan himself was wounded in the back by mortar shrapnel on the Ebro. His commanding officer cited him for bravery - "He carried his light machine-gun into every action, and when he was ordered to withdraw he waited until the whole company had done so. He said that his weapon was worth a dozen men. When he was wounded, he refused to leave his position until others had to leave it. Even then, he did not leave until he was ordered.". After the dissolution of the International Brigades, O'Riordan returned to Ireland (along with six surviving comrades), and began on the long and lonely journey that faced a Red revolutionary in mid-20th century Ireland. This included a period of internment for IRA activity, as well as inveterate activism in the Communist Party of Ireland and related socialist organisations. In 1965 he became full-time Secretary General of the Communist Party of Ireland, a post from which he retired in 1983, when he was elected National Chairman. He died in 2006, aged 81. As far as his health permitted him, he was an active and voluble Communist spokesperson to the end. I am easily old enough to remember Michael O'Riordan, and it has to be said that the lonely furrow he ploughed for the CPI in his later years (always followed with grim seriousness) was the subject of ridicule to many. Never mind. A brave man, who stayed true to his principles for life. Viva la Quince Brigada ! JR.