During the evictions and general poverty of early 20th Century Ireland, efforts to survive and look after the worst affected resulted in shared ideas between Republicans and former non- nationals who became interested in socialism. The hunger and evictions meant many had to move to england to avoid the poor house, some returned. The spanish civil war is thought to have been one option for dispersed socialists. A report indicates some may have embarked from the u.k. who were not in favour of Franco, so were on the same side.
According to a report, one result of the socialist era in Spain was increased independence for Catalonia, thought to have had a British influence. Reportedly public support was ununanimous and Franco gained control, though poverty and British military innitiatives resulted in concessions such as policies enabling colonisation.