The Irish and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Crusades In Conflict. Manchester University Press, 1999. First Edition. Pp288. Red rexene boards, lettered in gilt a fine bright copy.

Illustrated with five pages of maps & plans.

The International Brigade volunteers were led by the IRA warrior, Frank Ryan. Their rivals, who became a battalion of Franco’s Foreign Legion were mostly members of the semi-fascist Blueshirts, and were commanded by the ex-leader of that movement, General Eoin O’Duffy. In late 936, two enemy crusades – Communist and Catholic – left Ireland to fight it out in Spain.’