Gavin Wilk - Transatlantic Defiance: The Militant Irish Republican Movement in America, 1923–45

Transatlantic defiance

Transatlantic defiance

The militant Irish republican movement in America, 192345

GAVIN WILK

Manchester University Press

Manchester and New York

distributed in the United States exclusively
by Palgrave Macmillan

Copyright Gavin Wilk 2014

The right of Gavin Wilk to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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Distributed in Canada exclusively by
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data applied for

ISBN 978 0 7190 9166 7 hardback

First published 2014

The publisher has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for any external or thirdparty internet websites referred to in this book, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Typeset
by 4word Ltd, Bristol

In memory of my grandparents, James and Julia Cody, and Theodore and Gladys Wilk.

This book began as a doctoral thesis at the University of Limerick under the supervision of Professor Bernadette Whelan. I am indebted to Professor Whelan for her support and guidance throughout this project. Her overall dedication to the students and staff in the Department of History at the University of Limerick is remarkable and exemplary. I would also like to thank Professor Joe Lee, Glucksman Ireland House, New York University and Dr na N Bhroimil, Department of History, Mary Immaculate College who served as examiners for my thesis. Their advice and enthusiasm for this book is deeply appreciated.

I wish to acknowledge the financial assistance afforded to me in my research by the award of a Postgraduate Scholarship from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the staff at Manchester University Press for making publication of this book possible. Thank you to the anonymous readers who initially reviewed the manuscript and to John Roost from 4word along with Alison Shakspeare and Lisa Scholey for their assistance during the final production stages.

The staff in the following libraries and archives were always extremely courteous and helpful: Glucksman Library, University of Limerick; Mary Immaculate College Library; National Archives of Ireland; Cork City and County Archives; Cork Public Museum; National Library of Ireland; University College Dublin Archives; Trinity College Dublin Archives; Military Archives, Dublin; British Library; The National Archives, Kew; Archives of Irish America, New York University; Boston Public Library; Cleveland Public Library; FBI Headquarters; US Department of Homeland Security; Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Library of Congress; National Archives, College Park, Maryland; National Archives at New York City; New York Public Library; Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University; San Jos State University Special Collections; and the Western Reserve Historical Society. In particular, I would like to thank Christopher Cahill who allowed me to look at the American-Irish Historical Society collections while the societys building was being refurbished. I would also like to thank Bente Polites and Michael Foight for granting me access to the Special Collections at Villanova University for a week during the summer. Thank you as well to John OBrien of the West Side Irish-American Club in Cleveland who allowed me to view the clubs historical meeting minutes.

Gratitude must be expressed to Dr Suellen Hoy, Dr John Borgonovo, Dr Marie Coleman, Dr Brian Hanley, Dr Timothy Meagher, and Tim Pat Coogan for offering their personal insights on a variety of subject matters related to the research. I am also deeply indebted to Dr Jim Murphy, Peggy Calvey Patton, Judge Sen Gallagher, Bernie McCafferty, Fr Patrick Ryan, Sen Donlon, John and Melanie McKenna, Rev Robert Godley and Patricia and David Lobb for sharing personal collections, information and fascinating stories about friends and family.

Over the past few years, the faculty and staff in the Department of History at the University of Limerick have been most helpful and supportive. Thank you to Dr Ciara Breathnach, Dr Odette Clarke, Dr David Fleming, Dr Raymond Friel, Dr Catherine Lawless, Dr Alistair Malcolm, Professor Anthony McElligott, Dr Mary McCarthy, Dr Richard Kirwan, Dr Catherine OConnor, Dr Conor Reidy, Anne Marie ODonnell and Susan Mulcahy. In particular, I would like to thank Dr John Logan, Dr John OCallaghan and Dr Run ODonnell for research and writing advice.

Professor Marc Gallicchio and Professor Adele Lindenmeyr at Villanova University have offered invaluable advice and encouragement since I was an undergraduate student. Likewise, Dr Craig Bailey has been very supportive of this project from the outset. Professor Fred Israel has also provided a reassuring voice and assistance over the last decade.

Thanks to Freyne Corbett, Adrian Cormican, Paul Hayes, Jeffrey Leddin, Martin Walsh, Toms Mac Conmara, Stephen Ryan, Pdraig g ORuairc, Niamh Lenahan, Pat McMahon, Jo Baumgart, Dr Andro Rorua, Dr Mary Healy, Dr Amy Healy, Dr J.P. OConnor and Dr Niamh OSullivan for making my postgraduate experience at the University of Limerick very enjoyable.

During the researching and writing of this book, many family and friends have provided accommodation, transportation, laughs, and an abundance of support and encouragement. I would like to thank in particular Sarah, James and Serena OConnell, Yvonne and Tony Martin, Leonie and Mick Mulcahy, Derek and Louise Wallace, Stephen Wilk and Jen Chalavoutis, Sheila Bridget and Cory Vilaplana, Matt, Erin, Johanna and Deirdre Schnell, Michael, Nuala and Pdraig Egan, Conor Egan, Orla and Chloe Kavanagh, Kitty and Frank Keohane, Mary Ryan, Dr Lorraine Ryan and Dr Jos Galn Ortega, Therese Ryan and Dan McCormack, Teresa de Lacy-Egan, Tony and Marie Egan, Joe and Marie Kerin, Brendan and Olivia OSullivan, Patrick and Judy Byrne, Greg, Jess, Mary and Bruce Sobin, Neasa Moloney, Fiona McAuliffe, Sarah OFlaherty and Keith Doherty, Mary McCabe, Paddy and Mary Glynn, Colm Foley, Mike Mastrocinque, Pat Palladino, Tara Kelly, Alex Athanasiadis, Breda Cleary, Jim Cody and Sue Knecht, Thomas and Gloria Cody, Kevin Cody and Ann Gaffney, Charlie and Laraine Jackson, Bob Handrahan, Sr Mary Ann Cody, Sr Claire Kulp, and Fr Tom Maloney. The sincerest thanks to my parents, Ted and Sheila Wilk who have always been my most influential and dedicated supporters. Finally, and most importantly, thank you to Siobhn for her patience, support and love during every step of this project.