Marcus Witztum - An Irish Schindler.
The Irish Free State in the 1930s was a strange place. Having achieved "independence" from perfidious Albion in 1922, it immediately embarked on a civil war in which former comrades in arms became mortal enemies. The forces of partition led by WT Cosgrave ruled the roost helped by the abstentionist policies of the defeated republican forces, led by Eamonn De Valera. This situation changed after the 1932 election and Eamonn De Valera assumed the mantle of Taoiseach (Prime Minister).
Three years into the Great Depression wasn't a fortunate time to be giving birth to a new economy, especially one largely based on agriculture. While the departing (British) civil servants were quickly replaced by Europeans, including many with Nazi affiliations, attracting manufacturing industrialists proved a more daunting challenge.
Enter Marcus Witztum, a Polish born Jew, who had settled in Dublin, where he sold Viennese textiles. When he learned of the government's policy of encouraging European businesses to relocate to Ireland he sensed a unique opportunity. In collaboration with a Fianna Fáil politician named Eddie McKelly Witztum was successful in establishing factories in Galway, Castlebar and Leitrim. This factories manufactured hats and ribbons and were greatly welcomed for providing much needed employment. After the outbreak of WW2, Witztum's role took on much greater significant when he saved Jews who would otherwise have perished in the death camps.
Before a packed house at the Irish Jewish Museum, Yanky Fachler brought to life the story of a little known Holocaust saviour - Marcus Witztum.
http://jewishmuseum.ie/local-holocaust-hero-marcus-witztum-and-irelands-hat-and-ribbon-factories-11th-february-2018-3pm/
http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/castlebar/history/the-hat-factory-building.html
http://www.mayonews.ie/component/content/article?id=1444:when-castlebar-met-belgium
http://www.longfordlibrary.ie/Heritage/Projects/Longford-Industrial-Heritage-Survey-Phase-1-report-Desktop-Study-.pdf
