The 2020 General Election saw a radical shift in Irish politics. Sinn Féin emerged as a new force that threatens to disrupt Ireland's near century-old two party system. This shift is comparable to what happened with the emergence of Eamon de Valera's Fianna Fáil party in the late 1920s. A time when Ireland's establishment party, Cumann na nGaedheal, used fear of communism and the IRA to tar their opponents as a danger to Irish society. This was most notable during the 1932 General Election.

Much like their successor party, Fine Gael (and modern Fianna Fáil) use the Provisional IRA of the Troubles and accusations of "populism" (among others) as attempts to smear modern Sinn Féin. This atmosphere led to the growth of anti-communist and verging on fascistic movements in Ireland during the 1930s. Although, while Fianna Fáil and the IRA were painted as on the "left" by their opponents, the truth was a little more complex than that.

This video will look at Ireland's current (as of 2020) political situation before going back to look at the 1932 General Election, anti-communism in Ireland, the rise of The Army Comrade's Association (the Blueshirts), the birth of Fine Gael and the much smaller communist movement.

Be sure to check out the follow-up video which covers The Irish Nazi Party and the state's attitude towards fascism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50y1o80hnMI


**CHAPTERS**

00:00 Intro - Ireland in 2020
5:14 Ireland before 1932
8:56 Comrade de Valera
14:29 Spain, Bad! Mussolini, Good!
18:59 Blueshirts (da ba dee da ba daa)
23:31 A Terrible Party Is Born (The Foundation of Fine Gael)
32:16 But What Of The Communists!?
34:04 The End Bit


BIBILOGRAPHY:

The Blueshirt Movement, 1932-5: Ireland's Fascists? Mike Cronin



General Election 2020: Younger Voters Flock to Sinn Féin


(https://www.redcresearch.ie/general-election-2020-younger-voters-flock-to-sinn-fein/)




Class warfare and shadowy gunmen: How the 2020 election echoes 1932 (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/class-warfare-and-shadowy-gunmen-how-the-2020-election-echoes-1932-1.4163679)



Saint Patrick, Animal Gangs and Blueshirts: Anti-communism in 1930s Dublin.Donal Fallon


The far right rises: Its growth as a political force in Ireland Conor Gallagher (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/the-far-right-rises-its-growth-as-a-political-force-in-ireland-1.4358321)



Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil: ‘Civil War’ Parties?Mel Farrellc(https://www.theirishstory.com/2020/05/26/fine-gael-and-fianna-fail-civil-war-parties/#_edn22)


The Blueshirts – fascism in Ireland?John Dorney(https://www.theirishstory.com/2012/05/18/the-blueshirts-fascism-in-ireland/#.X80JD7OnyUl)



Hysteria over Sinn Féin entering government is about power, not the past Brian Hanley (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/25/sinn-fein-party-two-party-system)


All’s Loud On The Christian Front.(https://comeheretome.com/2014/12/17/alls-loud-on-the-christian-front/)

The Shady Origins of Fine Gael Barney Doherty(http://www.rebelnews.ie/2018/06/25/the-shady-origins-of-fine-gael/)

MUSIC:
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling by John McCormack
The Bank of Ireland/Ships are Sailing performed by Tom Morrison, Peter Conlon, T Higgins
Sea Fever by Gerald Moore
Song of the Volga Boatmen
Soviet National Anthem
Ad Libidinum Chants by St Mary's Choir
Fascisti Hym by Italian Military Band
All that I have and all that I had by Danny Malone
Wir Sind Des Geyers Schwarzen Haufe by Leon Lisner and Friends
Paddle Your Own Canoe by Arthur Collins
Deep Sea Blue by Simon TalverToo Much of a Good Thing by Oran Loyfer
Free Radicals by Stanley Garvich


All music is either in the public domain, used under a Creative Commons Liscence or under a royalty free liscence.