Just a quick note this morning to say I’ll be filling in for Tommy Graham (History Ireland editor) today on Sean Moncrieff’s programme on Newstalk at 3pm. The programme features a brief history slot, and I’m going to be discussing an aspect of Dublin history that should interest many: Dublin of the 1930s, and in particular the Animal Gang and the gangs who followed.
Below is a fascinating letter from George Gilmore and Frank Ryan of the Republican Congress sent to all the leading national papers on the political situation in 1930s Dublin, making mention of the Animal Gang.
Tune in.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
The gardaí kept a vigilant eye on left wing activities in the 30s and there are multiple files available in the National Archives. Below is one example from JUS 8/337, a particularly good file for Communist activities in Dublin:
M.J. Keegan, Garda Siochana Metropolitan Division, Special Branch Dublin Castle. 24 Dec 1934, SECRET. Re/ Communist Meeting at Cathal Brugha Street on 23/12/34 – (Criticism of Police).
[About 75 people present. Addressed from a horse drawn lorry by Charlie Donnelly,. chairman, and Joseph Troy. – my note]
‘Donnelly opened the meeting by saying that the Communist Party intended to hold a series of meetings on Sundays at Cathal Brugha Street to encourage the workers to organise so as to be in a position when the time comes to fight and put down capitalism, Fascism and imperialism and go forward towards a Farmers and Workers Republic. He asked the workers to unite to fight the Dublin Tramways Co. and to elect Strike Committees in the Depots and Garages. He severely criticised President De Valera and the Fianna Fail Government for the meagre relief granted to the Unemployed Workers and also for the imprisonment of members of the I.R.A.
Joseph Troy then spoke and vigorously referred to the C.I.D. and Police raid on Connolly House on Saturday, 22nd, December, 1934. He said the police broke and smashed the doors and locks and caused an amount of damage. He then referred to the raids on Bacon Shops Ltd. on Friday, 21st, December, 1934, and said the Police were wrongly informed, but of course it was only an excuse for the new Detective Force, known as the Broy Harriers, composed of Willie Roe and Dick Sweetman, to persecute the workers and put the Communist Party out of existence.
Troy asked the workers to attend at Rathmines Town Hall at 7-45 p.m. on 13th, January, 1935, and hear the exiled German Communist, Ernst Toller, and Miss Dorothy Woodman of London, speak. He said this meeting would take place under the auspices of the Irish Labour League against Fascism.’
Any chance of a link to that interview (also mentioned in Irish Times today)?