Date of Award
2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in History
Department
History
First Advisor
Michael Ortiz
Abstract
This study examines the ideological development and political significance of the Blueshirt movement in the Irish Free State, focusing mainly on how the transnational fascist thought developed amidst local conditions. It argues that although the Blueshirts, associated with organizations such as the Army Comrades Association (ACA) under the leadership of Eoin O'Duffy, incorporated aesthetic and ideological features of other interwar European fascisms into their program, including palingenetic ultranationalism, corporatism, and paramilitarism, these elements developed within the context of Ireland’s postcolonial political culture. These ideas were rooted in commonly held anti-British sentiment, which linked fascist politics of resentment and national regeneration to the legacy of colonial oppression, and the lingering tensions of the Irish Civil War.
Through an analysis of their rhetoric, development, and transnational connections, this thesis demonstrates how the Blueshirts mobilized the legacies of oppression under British rule and the divisions of the Irish Civil War to legitimize their program. It then situates the movement within a broader network of European fascism, highlighting O’Duffy’s international ties and Irish participation in broader fascist discourses. Ultimately, this study will show how international fascist trends grew from local circumstances.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Codey, Keira Ilene, "AN “OUTBURST OF IRISH FEELING”: FASCISM IN THE IRISH FREE STATE" (2026). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2736.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2736