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'''Frank Edwards''' (1907—[[7 June]] [[1983]]) was a teacher and prominent [[Ireland|Irish]] [[communism|communist]].
For a brief memoir, see "Frank Edwards, the man that fought the Bishop", by David Smith[http://www.geocities.com/IrelandSCW/ibvol-EdwardsWaterford.htm].


Frank Edwards' parents were Belfast Catholics who relocated to Waterford. His father served, and died, in the British Army during the First World War.
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>Uinseann MacEoin, ''Survivors'', (Argenta Publications, 1980).</ref>


⚫
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 Byrne. Edwards was investigated by the Church authorities and Bishop Kinnane 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>
A formative influence was his elder brother, Jack Edwards, who was the Waterford organiser of the one-day general strike against the enforcement of conscription in Ireland. Jack Edwards was active in the [[Irish War of Independence]] and then joined the Irregulars in the [[Irish Civil War]]. In Kilkenny Gaol, Jack Edwards was shot "trying to escape" as a reprisal for a Free State officer killed in Waterford (Uinseann MacEoin: Survivors; Argenta Publications, 1980).


⚫
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.
⚫
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 Byrne. Edwards was investigated by the Church authorites and Bishop Kinnane 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 instal "the Russian model" (see Seán Cronin: "Frank Ryan, The Search for the Republic", Repsol: Dublin, 1980 ISBN 0-86064-018-3).


⚫
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.
⚫
In late 1936 Frank 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.


⚫
Edwards was a founder in 1946, and Secretary from 1955 of the [[Ireland-Soviet Friendship Society]]. This led to his reputation as "the Kremlin's man in Dublin".{{cn}} He died in 1983 after a long illness.
⚫
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 war) found a teaching post at Zion School, the Jewish foundation on the South Circular Road. He retired thirty years later from this "temporary" post.


==References==
⚫
Frank Edwards was a founder in 1946, and Secretary from 1955 of the Ireland-Soviet Friendship Society: this led to his reputation as "the Kremlin's man in Dublin".
<references />


==External links==
There is an obituary on the net by Manus O'Riordan [http://www.geocities.com/IrelandSCW/ibvol-Edwards.htm].
* ''[http://www.geocities.com/IrelandSCW/ibvol-EdwardsWaterford.htm Frank Edwards: the man that fought the Bishop]'' by David Smith.
* ''[http://www.geocities.com/IrelandSCW/ibvol-Edwards.htm Frank Edwards: Portrait of an Irish Anti-Fascist]'' by Manus O'Riordan.
* [http://www.geocities.com/IrelandSCW/obit-Edwards.htm Obituary] from the ''Irish Democrat''.


[[Category:1907 births|Edwards, Frank]]
{{Uncategorized|December 2006}}
[[Category:1983 births|Edwards, Frank]]

[[Category:Uncategorised people]]
[[Category:Irish communists|Edwards, Frank]]

Revision as of 23:42, 2 January 2007

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 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.[1]

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 Byrne. Edwards was investigated by the Church authorities and Bishop Kinnane 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".[2]

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.

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.

Edwards was a founder in 1946, and Secretary from 1955 of the Ireland-Soviet Friendship Society. This led to his reputation as "the Kremlin's man in Dublin".[citation needed] He died in 1983 after a long illness.

References

  1. ^ Uinseann MacEoin, Survivors, (Argenta Publications, 1980).
  2. ^ See Seán Cronin, Frank Ryan: The Search for the Republic, (Dublin: Repsol, 1980), ISBN 0-86064-018-3.
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