NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Blueshirts

The Army Comrades Association (ACA), better known by its nickname The Blueshirts, was an Irish organisation set up by former police commissioner and army General Eoin O'Duffy in the 1930s. Its opponents accused it of being the Irish Free State's equivalent of Hitler's Brownshirts and Mussolini's Blackshirts which were all members of the European fascist movement, given that Blueshirts leaders all wore Fascist-style blue-shirts and gave the Roman salute. Its leaders argued that it was simply defending democracy, citing the actions of the IRA, who had attempted to break up meetings of Irish opposition groups whom they regarded as 'traitors'. It viewed its role as protecting opposition political parties from IRA attack. General Eoin ODuffy (20 October 1892 - 30 November 1944), was the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, leader of the quasi-fascist Blueshirts and the first (extra-parliamentary) leader of Fine Gael (1933-1934). ... Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented First atom was split with a particle accelerator Golden Age of radio begins in U.S. Science Nuclear fission discovered by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann Pluto, the ninth planet from the Sun, is discovered by Clyde Tombaugh British biologist Arthur... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish... Hitler addressing SA members in the late 1920s The Sturmabteilung (SA, German for Storm Division and is usually translated as stormtroops or stormtroopers) functioned as a paramilitary organisation of the NSDAP – the German Nazi party. ... The Blackshirts (Italian: camicie nere) were Fascist paramilitary groups in Italy during the period immediately following World War I and until the end of World War II. Inspired by Garibaldis Redshirts, the Blackshirts were organized by Benito Mussolini due to his disgust with the corruption and apathy of the... Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, refers to the right-wing authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ... The Roman salute is a closed finger, flat-palm-down hand raised at an angle (usually 45 degrees) and was used by the Roman Republic. ... There are several paramilitary groups which claim or have claimed the title Irish Republican Army (IRA) and advocate a unitary Irish state with no ties to the United Kingdom. ...

Origins

In 1932, Eamon de Valera, formerly leader of the anti-treaty faction during the Irish Civil War, became President of the Executive Council in the Irish Free State. One of his first acts as prime minister was to repeal the ban which made the IRA an illegal organisation. De Valera also released many Republican prisoners from jail. Once the ban was lifted the IRA began to disrupt meetings of the former governing party, Cumann na nGaedheal and intimidating its members. The Garda Síochána seemed to do little or nothing to prevent these attacks from taking place. Some hardline IRA members referred to Cumann na nGaedhael as the murder government, and mounted their campaign of threats and intimidation under the slogan No Free Speech for Traitors. 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... Eamon de Valera[1] (born Edward George de Valera, Irish name Éamonn de Bhailéara (October 14, 1882 – August 29, 1975), was an Irish politician, best known as a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and the Republican opposition in the ensuing Irish... The Civil War (June 1922–April 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ... The President of the Executive Council (Irish: Uachtaráin na hArd-Chomhairle) was the title of the prime minister in the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922-37. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish... There are several paramilitary groups which claim or have claimed the title Irish Republican Army (IRA) and advocate a unitary Irish state with no ties to the United Kingdom. ... There are several paramilitary groups which claim or have claimed the title Irish Republican Army (IRA) and advocate a unitary Irish state with no ties to the United Kingdom. ... Cumann na nGaedheal (League of the Gaels) was an Irish language name given to two Irish political parties. ... A member of the motorcycle unit of the Garda Síochána. ... There are several paramilitary groups which claim or have claimed the title Irish Republican Army (IRA) and advocate a unitary Irish state with no ties to the United Kingdom. ...

In February 1932, the Army Comrades Association (ACA) was formed. It was set up to promote the interests of ex-Irish Free State army members. In August Dr. Thomas F. O'Higgins, a Cumann na nGaedheal TD became its leader. He was the brother of the murdered TD Kevin O'Higgins. The ACA had the twin aims of opposing communism and defending free speech. However, the ACA increasingly took the role of protector at Cumann na nGaedheal meetings. Clashes with the IRA became a regular occurrence and tensions rose sharply. In April 1933 the ACA began wearing the distinctive blue shirt uniform so as to allow members recognise each other at meetings (Blue may have been chosen as it was an old symbol of Nationalism in Ireland). February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish... Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ... Thomas F. OHiggins was a senior Irish politician. ... Cumann na nGaedheal (League of the Gaels) was an Irish language name given to two Irish political parties. ... A TD or Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas (pronounced orr-och-tas) or National Parliament. ... A TD or Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas (pronounced orr-och-tas) or National Parliament. ... Kevin Christopher OHiggins ( 7 June 1892- 10 July 1927), Irish politician. ... There are several paramilitary groups which claim or have claimed the title Irish Republican Army (IRA) and advocate a unitary Irish state with no ties to the United Kingdom. ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

O'Duffy becomes leader

After Eamon de Valera's re-election in February 1933 he dismissed Eoin O'Duffy as Commissioner of an Garda Síochána. In July of that year O'Duffy took control of the ACA and re-named it the National Guard. He re-modelled the organisation, adopting many of the outward symbols of European fascism. The use of the Roman straight-arm salute, the blue shirt uniform and the holding of huge rallies became widespread. Membership of the new organisation became limited to people who were Irish or whose parents profess the Christian faith. O'Duffy was an admirer of Benito Mussolini and the Blueshirts adopted the creation of a corporate state as their chief political aim. Eamon de Valera[1] (born Edward George de Valera, Irish name Éamonn de Bhailéara (October 14, 1882 – August 29, 1975), was an Irish politician, best known as a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and the Republican opposition in the ensuing Irish... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... General Eoin ODuffy (20 October 1892 - 30 November 1944), was the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, leader of the quasi-fascist Blueshirts and the first (extra-parliamentary) leader of Fine Gael (1933-1934). ... July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... A salute is a gesture or other action used to indicate respect. ... Benito Mussolini created a fascist state through the use of propaganda, total control of the media and disassembly of the working democratic government. ...

Threatened 'March on Dublin'

In August 1933 de Valera banned a Blueshirt parade in Dublin. Remembering Mussolini's March on Rome de Valera feared a coup d'état, he telling Fianna Fáil politicians decades later that in August 1933 he was unsure whether the Irish army would obey his orders to suppress the perceived threat, or whether it would support the Blueshirts, a movement made up of many ex-comrades of the army. O'Duffy however accepted the government's decision and the parade was abandoned. However, several provincial parades took place to commemorate the deaths of Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins. De Valera saw this move as defying his ban, and the Blueshirts were declared an illegal organisation. 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Dublins Hapenny Bridge. ... March on Rome was the name given to the coup of State by which Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy in late October 1922. ... Arthur Griffith (Árt Ó Gríobhtha in Irish) (31 March 1871 - 12 August 1922) was the founder and first leader of Sinn Féin. ... Michael Collins (Irish: Micheál Ó Coileáin; October 16, 1890 – August 22, 1922), an Irish revolutionary leader, served as Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, as a member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, as Chairman of the Provisional Government and as Commander-in-Chief of...

To opponents of Fianna Fáil, who remembered the comments in 1929 of Dev's right hand man, Sean Lemass that Fianna Fáil was a "slightly constitutional party", this looked liked the first steps towards a dictatorship. Cumann na nGaedheal's protectors were declared illegal while the IRA, who were threatening Cumann na nGaedhael politicians and supporters and breaking up their meetings, were allowed to remain legal and armed. In response to the ban the National Guard, Cumann na nGaedheal and the National Centre Party merged to form a new party. On 3 September 1933 Fine Gael - the United Ireland Party was founded. Eoin O'Duffy became its first president with William T. Cosgrave and James Dillon acting as vice-presidents. (Cosgrave served as parliamentary leader, as O'Duffy had no seat in Dáil Éireann.) The National Guard became the Young Ireland Association and became the youth wing of the party. The party's aim was to create an independent United Ireland as a member of the Commonwealth. The party also advocated social reform and an end to the proportional representation method of voting. Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; English translation: Soldiers of Destiny) is the largest political party in Ireland. ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... ... There are several paramilitary groups which claim or have claimed the title Irish Republican Army (IRA) and advocate a unitary Irish state with no ties to the United Kingdom. ... The Centre Party was a political party in the Irish Free State in the early 1930s. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Fine Gael (United Ireland) (IPA ) is the second largest political party in both the Republic of Ireland and Ireland as a whole. ... General Eoin ODuffy (20 October 1892 - 30 November 1944), was the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, leader of the quasi-fascist Blueshirts and the first (extra-parliamentary) leader of Fine Gael (1933-1934). ... William Thomas Cosgrave, ( June 6, 1880 - November 16, 1965) served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932. ... James Dillon (26 September 1902 - 10 February 1986) was an Irish politician and leader of Fine Gael from 1959 to 1965. ... Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of independent sovereign states, most of which are former colonies once governed by the United Kingdom as part of the British Empire. ... Proportional representation (PR) is any of various multi-winner electoral systems which try to ensure that the proportional support gained by different groups is accurately reflected in the election result. ...

O'Duffy, however, proved to be a weak leader of the new party. He proved to be tempermental and incompetent, with poor political judgment; Cosgrave had planned to dismiss O'Duffy as Garda Commissioner had he won the 1932 general election. At the party's first ever annual conference in September 1934 O'Duffy was forced to resign as leader. He was replaced by W.T. Cosgrave. O'Duffy tried to keep the Blueshirts going as a separate organisation but it soon disintegrated. O'Duffy later fought on General Francisco Franco's side in the Spanish Civil War. He refused to engage the Basques, as he and his men had gone to Spain to fight Communism, not small Catholic nations. The 1932 General Election was one of the most important general elections held in Ireland in the 20th Century. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with the length of 30 days. ... 1934 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... William Thomas Cosgrave, (June 6, 1880 - November 16, 1965) served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932. ... Francisco Franco, late in life Ms Young IS a man. ... History of Spain Series -Timeline -Roman Spain -Visigothic Spain -Moorish Spain -Age of Reconquest -Age of Expansion -Age of Enlightenment -Reaction and Revolution -First Spanish Republic -The Restoration -Second Spanish Republic -Spanish Civil War -The Dictatorship -Modern Spain Topics -Economic History -Military History -Social History The Spanish Civil War (July... This article is about the Basque people. ...

How fascist were the Blueshirts?

While it adopted the fashion accessories of fascism, modern historians do not generally perceive it as a serious fascist movement, though the then Irish President of the Executive Council (prime minister), Eamon de Valera, feared it might become so. O'Duffy is generally seen as a weak and incompetent leader of no political skill who grabbed on to a politically fashionable European movement in the early 1930s, fascism, and adopted its symbolism. None of the senior politicians of the movement, all of whom had facilitated a democratic changeover of government in 1932, proposed unconstitutional action and rapidly turned on O'Duffy and his fascist regalia within a short period of time. While the Blueshirts did promote the concept of the corporate state, it was based largely on an encyclical of Pope Pius XI, rather than the political systems of Mussolini and Hitler - and the concept of corporatism was also used by de Valera in his construction of the new Seanad Éireann in 1937. The President of the Executive Council (Irish: Uachtaráin na hArd-Chomhairle) was the title of the prime minister in the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922-37. ... The concept of the corporate state developed under the context of Fascism in Mussolinis Italy as a means of regulating industrial relations. ... His Holiness Pope Pius XI, born Achille Ratti (May 31, 1857 - February 10, 1939), reigned as Pope and sovereign of Vatican City from February 6, 1922 until February 10, 1939. ... Seanad Éireann (English: Senate of Ireland), the Irish Senate, is the upper house of the Oireachtas: the parliament of the Republic of Ireland1. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Today, Blueshirt is a term of political abuse directed against Fine Gael by opponents, in much the same way as Loony left is used against left wing British Labour activists. A pejorative term usually for people or organisations with far-left politics, but sometimes used merely as a name for left-wing people; from a right-wing perspective -possibly from the press; particularly the tabloid newspapers. ... The Labour Party is a centre-left or Democratic Socialist political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ...

Other Blueshirts

Other fascist organisations in Europe and Latin America called themselves Blueshirts:

The Faisceau was a short-lived French Fascist party. ... Falange was a totalitarian clerical fascist political organization founded by José Antonio Primo de Rivera in 1933 in opposition to the Second Spanish Republic. ... Somoza was the name of an influential family dictatorship in Nicaragua. ...

References

Categories: Political parties in Ireland | Republic of Ireland political parties 1983 is an integer and composite number that represents a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tim Pat Coogan is a respected Irish historian, broadcaster, newspaper columnist and former editor of the Irish Press newspaper. ... Eamon de Valera1 (born Edward George de Valera, Irish name Éamonn de Bhailéara) (October 14, 1882 - August 29, 1975), was a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and of the Republican opposition in the ensuing Irish Civil War, and was subsequently... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... F. S. L. Lyons (1923 - 1983) was one of Irelands premier historians. ...