2 reviews for The Irish Influence: Building the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization (Crua/H/Back)
Rated 5 out of 5
John Fox –
During the Second World War, the two most important international organizations were both led by Irishmen. The early history of the International Labour Organization (ILO) is inseparable from the career of Edward Phelan, who was a native of the village of Cheekpoint in County Waterford, south-east Ireland. Born in the same year, 1888, Seán Lester first lived at Woodburn, near Carrickfergus in County Antrim, and would rise through a series of unpredictable events to lead the troubled League of Nations during the last six years of its existence.
Finnegan tells us that, at the Peace Conference held at Versailles in 1919 set up the International Labour Organization (ILO), with Edward Phelan playing a key role in establishing its terms of reference. He was offered the post as Chief of its Diplomatic Division in Geneva. Under the impetus of the American President Woodrow Wilson, the Versailles Conference also set up the League of Nations in Geneva. Unfortunately, the United States of America would never join the League of Nations, since the Congress refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. This would prove to be a fatal blow for the League.
Gerry Finnegan takes us through the litany of catastrophic failings that would befall the League of Nations and lead to its total eclipse during the 1930s. It was clear to everybody that another war was inevitable and, by the end of the decade, the League played no further part in international politics. A serious crisis within the League ended with Seán Lester taking over as acting Secretary-General in September 1940.
When compared to other studies about Lester, Phelan, the League of Nations and the ILO, Gerry Finnegan’s book adopts a resolutely Irish approach. However, thanks to his dedicated research, it contains valuable explanations of what took place at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 and, particularly, what happened to the ILO and the League of Nations after the Second World War—one of which would survive and the other perish.
John Fox
Rated 5 out of 5
Lorna Neligan –
The story of Ireland joining the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the same day in 1923 is compelling in itself, but The Irish Influence by Gerry Finnegan transcends a mere recounting of historical milestones. It delves into the lives of two extraordinary Irishmen, Edward Phelan and Sean Lester, whose leadership in international diplomacy two decades later exemplified Ireland’s emerging global role.
The author masterfully unpacks the fascinating backstories of Phelan and Lester, revealing how their contrasting upbringings and experiences uniquely prepared them for diplomatic greatness. Phelan’s journey as a Catholic from Waterford, raised in Liverpool, and polished in the intellectual circles of London, is rich with irony and depth. His maritime background gave him a global perspective, and his early career flirtations with travel writing and labor relations imbued him with the skills and insight necessary for his role in shaping the ILO. Phelan’s ability to navigate diverse cultures and ideologies—spanning experiences in Russia and the British Foreign Office—is vividly portrayed, highlighting the unlikely yet fortuitous path that brought him to prominence.
In parallel, Sean Lester’s transformation is equally captivating. A Protestant Methodist from Unionist Northern Ireland, Lester embraced a Gaelic identity by adopting the name Sean. His journalistic career, marked by advocacy for Irish independence, placed him in the midst of the intellectual and political ferment of early 20th-century Ireland. From Belfast to Galway to Dublin, his encounters with luminaries like Sean O’Casey and other Irish cultural icons add layers of intrigue to his journey. The book paints Lester as a man of conviction, navigating the tensions of his heritage while pursuing a vision of Ireland’s role on the global stage.
What sets this book apart is how it weaves the personal histories of Phelan and Lester into the larger tapestry of Ireland’s international engagement and importance in a pre and post-WW II world. The contrasts between their religious backgrounds, regional identities, and career trajectories are handled with sensitivity, showing how these differences were not obstacles but assets in their work for global peace and labor rights.
Gerry Finnegan’s prose is both scholarly and engaging, bringing the political and cultural contexts of the early 20th century to life. The narrative captures the irony of two Irishmen from vastly different worlds converging on the global stage, proving that their distinct paths were indispensable to their shared diplomatic success in the Geneva and the world.
In essence, this book is not only a historical account but also a tribute to the resilience, adaptability, and vision of Phelan and Lester – and the complexities of Ireland before and after its independence. It offers profound insights into how individual stories can intersect with national and global histories, making it a must-read for anyone interested in Irish history, international relations, or the power of a small independent country can play in global affairs.
John Fox –
During the Second World War, the two most important international organizations were both led by Irishmen. The early history of the International Labour Organization (ILO) is inseparable from the career of Edward Phelan, who was a native of the village of Cheekpoint in County Waterford, south-east Ireland. Born in the same year, 1888, Seán Lester first lived at Woodburn, near Carrickfergus in County Antrim, and would rise through a series of unpredictable events to lead the troubled League of Nations during the last six years of its existence.
Finnegan tells us that, at the Peace Conference held at Versailles in 1919 set up the International Labour Organization (ILO), with Edward Phelan playing a key role in establishing its terms of reference. He was offered the post as Chief of its Diplomatic Division in Geneva. Under the impetus of the American President Woodrow Wilson, the Versailles Conference also set up the League of Nations in Geneva. Unfortunately, the United States of America would never join the League of Nations, since the Congress refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. This would prove to be a fatal blow for the League.
Gerry Finnegan takes us through the litany of catastrophic failings that would befall the League of Nations and lead to its total eclipse during the 1930s. It was clear to everybody that another war was inevitable and, by the end of the decade, the League played no further part in international politics. A serious crisis within the League ended with Seán Lester taking over as acting Secretary-General in September 1940.
When compared to other studies about Lester, Phelan, the League of Nations and the ILO, Gerry Finnegan’s book adopts a resolutely Irish approach. However, thanks to his dedicated research, it contains valuable explanations of what took place at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 and, particularly, what happened to the ILO and the League of Nations after the Second World War—one of which would survive and the other perish.
John Fox
Lorna Neligan –
The story of Ireland joining the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the same day in 1923 is compelling in itself, but The Irish Influence by Gerry Finnegan transcends a mere recounting of historical milestones. It delves into the lives of two extraordinary Irishmen, Edward Phelan and Sean Lester, whose leadership in international diplomacy two decades later exemplified Ireland’s emerging global role.
The author masterfully unpacks the fascinating backstories of Phelan and Lester, revealing how their contrasting upbringings and experiences uniquely prepared them for diplomatic greatness. Phelan’s journey as a Catholic from Waterford, raised in Liverpool, and polished in the intellectual circles of London, is rich with irony and depth. His maritime background gave him a global perspective, and his early career flirtations with travel writing and labor relations imbued him with the skills and insight necessary for his role in shaping the ILO. Phelan’s ability to navigate diverse cultures and ideologies—spanning experiences in Russia and the British Foreign Office—is vividly portrayed, highlighting the unlikely yet fortuitous path that brought him to prominence.
In parallel, Sean Lester’s transformation is equally captivating. A Protestant Methodist from Unionist Northern Ireland, Lester embraced a Gaelic identity by adopting the name Sean. His journalistic career, marked by advocacy for Irish independence, placed him in the midst of the intellectual and political ferment of early 20th-century Ireland. From Belfast to Galway to Dublin, his encounters with luminaries like Sean O’Casey and other Irish cultural icons add layers of intrigue to his journey. The book paints Lester as a man of conviction, navigating the tensions of his heritage while pursuing a vision of Ireland’s role on the global stage.
What sets this book apart is how it weaves the personal histories of Phelan and Lester into the larger tapestry of Ireland’s international engagement and importance in a pre and post-WW II world. The contrasts between their religious backgrounds, regional identities, and career trajectories are handled with sensitivity, showing how these differences were not obstacles but assets in their work for global peace and labor rights.
Gerry Finnegan’s prose is both scholarly and engaging, bringing the political and cultural contexts of the early 20th century to life. The narrative captures the irony of two Irishmen from vastly different worlds converging on the global stage, proving that their distinct paths were indispensable to their shared diplomatic success in the Geneva and the world.
In essence, this book is not only a historical account but also a tribute to the resilience, adaptability, and vision of Phelan and Lester – and the complexities of Ireland before and after its independence. It offers profound insights into how individual stories can intersect with national and global histories, making it a must-read for anyone interested in Irish history, international relations, or the power of a small independent country can play in global affairs.