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{{Short description|Irish teacher and communist}}
{{Short description|Irish teacher and communist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Frank Edwards''' (1907–7 June 1983) was a teacher and prominent [[Ireland|Irish]] [[communism|communist]].
'''Frank Edwards''' (1907–7 June 1983) was a teacher and prominent [[Ireland|Irish]] [[communism|communist]].


Edwards's parents were Belfast Catholics who relocated to [[Waterford]]. His father served, and died, in the British Army during the [[First World War]]. His elder brother, Jack Edwards, was the Waterford organiser of the one-day general strike against the enforcement of conscription in Ireland. Jack was active in the [[Irish War of Independence]] and then joined the Irregulars in the [[Irish Civil War]]. In Kilkenny Gaol, he was shot "trying to escape" as a reprisal for a Free State officer killed in Waterford.<ref>MacEoin 1987 p.4</ref>Frank Edwards said of the killing of his brother "It was known to be a reprisal for the shooting of a [[Free State]] officer, Captain O'Brien, in Waterford."<ref>The Irish Revolution, 1912-1923, p.111, Pat McCarthy, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2015, ISBN 978-1-84682-410-4</ref>
Edwards's parents were Belfast Catholics who relocated to [[Waterford]]. His father served, and died, in the British Army during the [[First World War]]. His elder brother, Jack Edwards, was the Waterford organiser of the one-day general strike against the enforcement of conscription in Ireland. Jack was active in the [[Irish War of Independence]] and then joined the Anti-treaty side in the [[Irish Civil War]]. In Kilkenny Gaol, he was shot "trying to escape" as a reprisal for a Free State officer killed in Waterford.<ref>MacEoin 1987 p.4</ref> Frank Edwards said of the killing of his brother "It was known to be a reprisal for the shooting of a [[Irish Free State|Free State]] officer, Captain O'Brien, in Waterford."<ref>The Irish Revolution, 1912-1923, p.111, Pat McCarthy, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2015, ISBN 978-1-84682-410-4</ref>
He trained as a national school teacher in De La Salle College, Waterford.<ref>[http://waterfordireland.tripod.com/frank_edwards.htm Frank Edwards]</ref>
He trained as a national school teacher in De La Salle College, Waterford.<ref>[http://waterfordireland.tripod.com/frank_edwards.htm Frank Edwards]</ref>
While teaching at [[Mount Sion Primary School|Mount Sion Christian Brothers School]], Waterford, Frank Edwards became the Waterford leader of the [[Republican Congress]] in 1934. The Roman Catholic Church had denounced the Congress and advised against participation in its foundation meeting. When Edwards denounced local slum-landlords, not realising that some of the property was owned by the Catholic Church, this brought him to the notice of Archdeacon [[William Byrne (priest)|William Byrne]]. Edwards was investigated by the Church authorities and Bishop [[Jeremiah Kinane]] ordered he leave his teaching post. Edwards was supported at first by his union, the [[Irish National Teachers' Organisation]], and a national scandal ensued; but the Church stood firm, stating that the Congress had betrayed "The Republic" and sought to install "the Russian model".<ref>See Seán Cronin, ''Frank Ryan: The Search for the Republic'', (Dublin: Repsol, 1980), {{ISBN|0-86064-018-3}}.</ref>
While teaching at [[Mount Sion Primary School|Mount Sion Christian Brothers School]], Waterford, Frank Edwards became the Waterford leader of the [[Republican Congress]] in 1934. The Roman Catholic Church had denounced the Congress and advised against participation in its foundation meeting. When Edwards denounced local slum-landlords, not realising that some of the property was owned by the Catholic Church, this brought him to the notice of Archdeacon [[William Byrne (priest)|William Byrne]]. Edwards was investigated by the Church authorities and Bishop [[Jeremiah Kinane]] ordered he leave his teaching post. Edwards was supported at first by his union, the [[Irish National Teachers' Organisation]], and a national scandal ensued; but the Church stood firm, stating that the Congress had betrayed "The Republic" and sought to install "the Russian model".<ref>See Seán Cronin, ''Frank Ryan: The Search for the Republic'', (Dublin: Repsol, 1980), {{ISBN|0-86064-018-3}}.</ref>
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In late 1936 Edwards went to [[Spanish Civil War|Spain]] as a member of the [[Connolly Column]], fought in the Front at Lopera (where only 66 of the 150 Irish engaged did not become casualties) and was wounded at Las Rozas on the Madrid Front.
In late 1936 Edwards went to [[Spanish Civil War|Spain]] as a member of the [[Connolly Column]], fought in the Front at Lopera (where only 66 of the 150 Irish engaged did not become casualties) and was wounded at Las Rozas on the Madrid Front.


With his wife Bobbie, [[Nora Harkin]], [[John Swift (trade unionist)|John Swift]] and others, Edwards was one of the founders of the [[Ireland-USSR Society]] in 1966.<ref name="Quinn">{{cite journal|last1=Quinn|first1=Michael J.|date=2013|title=The Ireland-USSR Society, 1966-92|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24897894|journal=Saothar|volume=38|pages=93–103|issn=0332-1169|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref>
With his wife Bobbie, [[Nora Harkin]], [[John Swift (trade unionist)|John Swift]] and others, Edwards was one of the founders of the [[Ireland-USSR Society]] in 1966.<ref name="Quinn">{{cite journal|last1=Quinn|first1=Michael J.|date=2013|title=The Ireland-USSR Society, 1966-92|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24897894|journal=Saothar|volume=38|pages=93–103|jstor=24897894 |issn=0332-1169|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref>


He returned to Ireland, where he was now [[blacklisted]], lost a post with [[Pye Ltd.|Pye Radio]] for organising a union, worked as a labourer laying pipes, and, at the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], found a teaching post at Zion School, a Jewish foundation on the [[South Circular Road, Dublin|South Circular Road]]. He retired thirty years later from this "temporary" post, and died in 1983 after a long illness.
He returned to Ireland, where he was now [[blacklisted]], lost a post with [[Pye Ltd.|Pye Radio]] for organising a union, worked as a labourer laying pipes, and, at the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], found a teaching post at Zion School, a Jewish foundation on the [[South Circular Road, Dublin|South Circular Road]]. He retired thirty years later from this "temporary" post, and died in 1983 after a long illness.

Latest revision as of 16:21, 17 June 2022

Frank Edwards (1907–7 June 1983) was a teacher and prominent Irish communist.

Edwards's parents were Belfast Catholics who relocated to Waterford. His father served, and died, in the British Army during the First World War. His elder brother, Jack Edwards, was the Waterford organiser of the one-day general strike against the enforcement of conscription in Ireland. Jack was active in the Irish War of Independence and then joined the Anti-treaty side in the Irish Civil War. In Kilkenny Gaol, he was shot "trying to escape" as a reprisal for a Free State officer killed in Waterford.[1] Frank Edwards said of the killing of his brother "It was known to be a reprisal for the shooting of a Free State officer, Captain O'Brien, in Waterford."[2] He trained as a national school teacher in De La Salle College, Waterford.[3] While teaching at Mount Sion Christian Brothers School, Waterford, Frank Edwards became the Waterford leader of the Republican Congress in 1934. The Roman Catholic Church had denounced the Congress and advised against participation in its foundation meeting. When Edwards denounced local slum-landlords, not realising that some of the property was owned by the Catholic Church, this brought him to the notice of Archdeacon William Byrne. Edwards was investigated by the Church authorities and Bishop Jeremiah Kinane ordered he leave his teaching post. Edwards was supported at first by his union, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, and a national scandal ensued; but the Church stood firm, stating that the Congress had betrayed "The Republic" and sought to install "the Russian model".[4]

In late 1936 Edwards went to Spain as a member of the Connolly Column, fought in the Front at Lopera (where only 66 of the 150 Irish engaged did not become casualties) and was wounded at Las Rozas on the Madrid Front.

With his wife Bobbie, Nora Harkin, John Swift and others, Edwards was one of the founders of the Ireland-USSR Society in 1966.[5]

He returned to Ireland, where he was now blacklisted, lost a post with Pye Radio for organising a union, worked as a labourer laying pipes, and, at the outbreak of the Second World War, found a teaching post at Zion School, a Jewish foundation on the South Circular Road. He retired thirty years later from this "temporary" post, and died in 1983 after a long illness.

References

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Sources

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  • MacEoin, Uinseann, ed. (1987). "Frank Edwards". Survivors (PDF) (2nd ed.). Dublin: Argenta. pp. 1–20. ISBN 0 9511172 11. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via Irish Military Archives.

Citations

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  1. ^ MacEoin 1987 p.4
  2. ^ The Irish Revolution, 1912-1923, p.111, Pat McCarthy, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2015, ISBN 978-1-84682-410-4
  3. ^ Frank Edwards
  4. ^ See Seán Cronin, Frank Ryan: The Search for the Republic, (Dublin: Repsol, 1980), ISBN 0-86064-018-3.
  5. ^ Quinn, Michael J. (2013). "The Ireland-USSR Society, 1966-92". Saothar. 38: 93–103. ISSN 0332-1169. JSTOR 24897894. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
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