Reds and the Green: Ireland, Russia and the Communist Internationals, 1919-43

In August 1922, two agents of the Communist International held a secret meeting in Dublin with two IRA leaders. The four signed an agreement providing for the transformation of Sinn Féin into a socialist party. In return, Moscow was to assist with the supply of weapons to the IRA. From February 1918, when over 10, 000 thronged central Dublin to acclaim the Bolshevik revolution, to July 1941, when the Party in Éire was dissolved by the votes of just 20 members, communists were involved with every radical movement, and demonised in every pulpit. Based on former Soviet archives, Reds and the Green shows why Irish Marxists and republicans turned repeatedly to Russia for support and inspiration and how the Comintern was able to direct an Irish political party.