Michael O'Riordan facts for kids
Michael O'Riordan (born November 12, 1917 – died May 18, 2006) was an important Irish political figure. He helped start the Communist Party of Ireland. He is also famous for fighting in the Spanish Civil War with a group called the Connolly Column, which was part of the International Brigades.
Quick facts for kids
Michael O'Riordan
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Michael O'Riordan in his Spanish Civil War uniform, 1936
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| General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland | |
| In office 1970–1983 |
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| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | James Stewart |
| Chairman of the Communist Party of Ireland | |
| In office 1983–1989 |
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| Preceded by | Andy Barr |
| Succeeded by | Andy Barr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 November 1917 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 18 May 2006 (aged 88) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Communist Party of Ireland |
| Spouse | Kay Keohane |
| Children | 3 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Second Spanish Republic |
| Branch/service | International Brigades |
| Unit | Connolly Column |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War |
Contents
Early Life and Youth Activism
Michael O'Riordan was born in Cork city, Ireland, on November 11, 1917. He was the youngest of five children. His parents came from a part of West Cork where the Irish language was spoken. Michael learned Irish later, when he was held in a camp during World War II.
As a teenager, he joined Fianna Éireann, a youth group linked to Irish republicanism. He then joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Many people in the IRA at that time supported left-wing politics, which means they believed in more equality and social support for everyone.
In the 1930s, O'Riordan fought against the "Blueshirts" in Cork City. The Blueshirts were a group with ideas similar to fascism, which is a political system that is very controlling and often uses force. In 1934, O'Riordan joined the Republican Congress, a short-lived political party that wanted a socialist Irish republic.
Fighting in the Spanish Civil War
In 1935, O'Riordan joined the Communist Party of Ireland. He also worked for their newspaper, The Irish Workers' Voice. In 1937, he went to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War. This war was between the elected government of Spain (the Second Spanish Republic) and a rebel group called the "Nationalists."
Many Irishmen, including O'Riordan, joined the International Brigades to support the Spanish Republic. They were also against the Irish "Blueshirts" who went to Spain to fight on the "Nationalist" side. O'Riordan was badly hurt by shrapnel during a battle in August 1938. He returned to Ireland the next month.
During World War II, Ireland remained neutral. Because of his past activities with the IRA, O'Riordan was held in the Curragh Camp internment camp from 1939 to 1943. While there, he learned Irish and helped publish a newspaper called Splannc. After he was released, he left the IRA.
Political Work in Ireland
After the war, O'Riordan continued his political work. In 1944, he helped start a branch of the Labour Party in Cork. This branch was seen as controversial because it included former communists. He later helped create the Cork Socialist Party in 1945.
O'Riordan worked as a bus conductor in Cork and later in Dublin. He was active in the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), a trade union that helps workers. He ran for election five times, always campaigning for a socialist republic in Ireland. However, he was never elected, partly because of Ireland's strong Catholic beliefs and fear of communism at the time.
In the 1960s, O'Riordan was a key figure in the Dublin Housing Action Committee. This group pushed for better housing and the removal of slums in Dublin. He even became friends with a priest, Father Austin Flannery, who supported his work.
He also became friends with the famous folk singer Luke Kelly. Kelly supported O'Riordan in his election campaigns. The famous Irish writer Seán O'Casey also supported O'Riordan in 1951.
O'Riordan's time fighting in the Spanish Civil War was always very important to him. In 1979, he helped bring the remains of his friend Frank Ryan, another Irish fighter from the Spanish Civil War, back to Ireland from Germany.
He was also involved in groups supporting Chile and Cuba. He visited Cuba for a Communist Party meeting in 1984. He also campaigned for the "Birmingham Six," a group of Irish people wrongly jailed in Britain. From 1970 to 1983, O'Riordan was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, and then its National Chairman until 1988.
His last big public appearance was in 2005. He attended a ceremony in Dublin for the Irish people who fought in the Spanish Civil War. He met the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and received an award from Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba.
Connolly Column Book
In 1979, O'Riordan wrote a book called Connolly Column: The Story of the Irishmen who fought for the Spanish Republic, 1936–1939. This book tells the story of the Irish volunteers who fought in the Spanish Civil War. An updated version was released in 2005.
The book was also the inspiration for the famous song Viva la Quinta Brigada by Irish singer-songwriter Christy Moore. Moore said that without O'Riordan's book, he would not have been able to write the song.
Later Life and Passing
In 1991, O'Riordan's wife, Kay Keohane, passed away. He continued to live in their home before moving closer to his son, Manus, in 2000. He described himself as an atheist and believed that communism would become important again in the future.
He became ill in late 2005 and developed Alzheimer's disease. He passed away on May 18, 2006, at the age of 88. Many people attended his funeral, including politicians, union leaders, actors, and musicians. Tributes were paid by President Mary McAleese and other important figures.
Works
- Pages From History: On Irish-Soviet Relations (1977)
