Captain Paddy O’Daire

Born in Glenties, Donegal, some thirty years ago, Paddy O’Daire play- ed his part in the Irish War for Independence even while he was still in his teens. Like many other Irishmen, in later years he was forced to emigrate to Canada in search of work. It was not long until he became prominent in the Canadian progressive movement. His revolutionary songs and ballads of the Irish and Canadian peoples’ struggles are well- known to the workers of Western Canada.

He was sentenced to fifteen months’ hard labour and deportation in 1930 by the Canadian Government for his activities on behalf of the workers. .On his return from Canada he found work in England and afterwards in Ireland.

The outbreak of the rebel Generals, supported by the Fascist powers of Germany and Italy, against the people of Spain met with an immed- iate response from anti—Fascist Irishmen, a11d among the first of these to come to the aid of the young Republic Was this Irish fighter for freedom.

In December 1936 he was with the first Irish Unit ‘which did valiant service on the Cordova front. He was wounded in this action and after his release from hospital he joined the 20th Battalion. along with his fellow countrymen Daly, Edwards, Monks, etc.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, for bravery on the field, he com-- manded a section in the Pozoblanco and Chimorra fronts. Relieved in July, O’Daire was soon active again as Second-in—iCommand of a Bat- talion under his comrade Peter Daly. In the Aragon offensive O’Daire- led the final attack that resulted in the capture of Purburell Hill, the strongly fortified position which dominates Quinto. Here, Peter Daly- had received fatal injuries on the previous day.

With over a year of service with the Republican forces, O’Daire is now one of the front—rank leaders of the English-speaking forces of the International Brigade. Quiet, efficient and likeable, with his nose ever in a Spanish Grammar or a Military Manual when off duty, O’Daire is one of the finest and most intelligent military men among the many who have come from Ireland to fight for the cause of anti—Fascist Spain-

A. D. 194