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The anti-annuity payment campaign, 1934–6

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2016

Raymond Ryan
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Extract

The retention by the Fianna Fáil government of the land annuities in 1932 and the consequent trade dispute with Great Britain, the ‘economic war’, is a subject extensively covered in the existing historiography, both in terms of the diplomatic and economic facets of the dispute. Opposition by the opponents of Fianna Fáil to the collection of land annuities has been well documented in the context of the political conflict between supporters and opponents of the treaty. Another trend in the historiography has emphasised, as the central characteristic of the anti-annuity payment campaign, the opposition by farmers to the payment of annuities on economic and social rather than on political grounds. Paul Bew and others have argued that large farmers supported the Blueshirts during the ‘economic war’ for material reasons; Mike Cronin has argued that the crisis of the ‘economic war’ encouraged opposition to de Valera’s policies among farmers, rather than pro-Treaty political considerations; and Andrew Orridge has also argued that the anti-annuity payment campaign included both a political element, in the form of Blueshirt hostility to Fianna Fáil, and a non-political element, on the part of farmers protesting at how their dependence on agricultural exports to Britain was threatened by Fianna Fáil policies.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 34 , Issue 135 , May 2005 , pp. 306 - 320
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 2005

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References

1 McMahon, Deirdre, Republicans and imperialists: Anglo-Irish relations in the 1930s (Dublin, 1984), pp 38–41, 58–63, 80–82, 145–7Google Scholar.

2 Daly, Mary, The first department: a history of the Department of Agriculture (Dublin, 2002), p. 162Google Scholar; Grada, Cormac Ó, A rocky road: the Irish economy since the 1920s (Manchester, 1997), pp 5–6Google Scholar.

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5 Cronin, Mike, ‘The socio-economic background and membership of the Blueshirt movement, 1932–35’ in I.H.S., xxix, no. 114 (Nov. 1994), p. 246Google Scholar; idem, The Blueshirts and Irish politics (Dublin 1997), p. 167.

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7 Manning, Dillon, pp 106–7.

8 Regan, John, The Irish counter-revolution (Dublin, 1999), p. 369Google Scholar.

9 The Kerryman, 23 May 1931.

10 Cork Examiner, 28 Sept. 1931.

11 See Drisceoil, Donal Ó, Peadar O’ Donnell (Cork, 2001), pp 48–50Google Scholar.

12 McMahon, Republicans & imperialists, p. 80.

13 “Standing committee meeting, National Farmers’ and Ratepayers’ League, 6 Dec. 1932 (U.C.D.A., Fine Gael collection, P39/MIN/6).

14 For examples of the various organisations with which Beiton was involved see Irish Independent, 20 Jan. 1923; Irish Times, 23 Apr. 1926, 29 Mar. 1928.

15 Irish Independent, 16 Sept. 1932.

16 Supt Murphy, Naas, to Chief Supt O’Dwyer, 31 Aug. 1933 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/722).

17 P. P. Dunphy to secretary, Department of Justice, 11 Nov. 1933 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/733).

18 Fine Gael General Purposes Committee meeting, 15 Feb. 1934 (U.C.D.A., Fine Gael collection, P39/ MIN/2).

19 Limerick Leader, 21 May 1935.

20 Cronin, Blueshirts, p. 151.

21 Sergt J. Hunt, Callan, to Chief Supt O’Halloran, 27 Sept. 1934 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/577).

22 Hunt to O’Halloran, 8 Oct. 1934 (ibid.).

23 Chief Supt Nicholas Murphy, Carlow , to Garda Commissioner, 21 Dec. 1934 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/523).

24 Sergt J. Hunt, Callan, to Chief Supt O’Halloran, 4 Sept. 1934 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/570).

25 Chief Supt, Bray, to Garda Commissioner, 10 Nov. 1934 (ibid.).

26 Cork Examiner, 1 Mar. 1934.

27 Ibid., 30 Aug. 1934.

28 Irish Independent, 8 Mar. 1935.

29 Duty sergt, Kilmainham, to Garda Commissioner, 15 Aug. 1934 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/509).

30 Circular issued by Cork County Advisory Committee, Fianna Fáil, re County Cork Land Annuitants’ Defence Association, Aug. 1934 (Cork Archives Institute, Séamus Fitzgerald papers, PR/6/239).

31 Republican Congress, 1 Sept. 1934. On the ‘Anti-Sinn Féin Societies’ and the alleged involvement of Cork Protestants see Hart, Peter, The I.R.A. and its enemies: violence and community in Cork, 1916–1923 (Oxford, 1998), pp 100, 305Google Scholar.

32 Circular letter from E. J. Cussen to businesses in Cork city, 21 Aug. 1934 (N.A.I, DJ JUS 8/572).

33 Cronin, Blueshirts, p. 145.

34 Insp. Thomas Dowd to Garda Commissioner, 9 Oct. 1934 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/572).

35 Insp. W. J. McConville to Garda Commissioner, 26 Sept. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/587).

36 Insp. W. Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 11 May 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/585).

37 Irish Independent, 6 Mar. 1935.

38 Supt McKenna to Chief Supt, Cork, 14 Dec. 1934 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/583).

39 Irish Independent, 27 Oct., 17 Nov. 1934.

40 Manning, Blueshirts, p. 175.

41 Insp. W. Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 17 Oct. 1934 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/555).

42 Secretary, President of the Executive Council, to secretary, Department of Justice, 23 Oct. 1934 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/284).

43 Irish Independent, 26 July 1935.

44 Sergt T. Kilroy, Callan, to Supt J. Hunt, 19 Dec. 1934 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/632).

45 Irish Press, 3 Jan. 1935.

46 Sergt J. Sullivan to Supt O’Shea, 15 Jan. 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/624).

47 Cork Examiner, 1 Feb. 1935.

48 The Blueshirt, 9 Feb. 1935; see also Cork Examiner, 20 May 1935, where supporters of the Cork anti-annuity payment campaign claimed continuity with the Land League.

49 Cork Examiner, 1 Feb. 1935.

50 Irish Independent, 11 Feb. 1935.

51 Fine Gael standing committee meeting, 24 Jan. 1935 (U.C.D.A., Fine Gael collection, P39/MIN/2).

52 Cork Examiner, 1 Feb. 1935.

53 Irish Press, 22 Jan. 1935.

54 United Ireland, 12 Jan. 1935.

55 Irish Independent, 1 Feb. 1935.

56 Cork Examiner, 3 Apr., 4 May 1935.

57 Irish Independent, 20 Dec. 1934.

58 Ibid., 18 Jan. 1935.

59 Ibid., 25 Jan. 1935.

60 Ibid., 24 Jan. 1935.

61 Cork Examiner, 1 Feb. 1935.

62 Irish Independent, 7 Feb. 1935.

63 The Blueshirt, 9 Feb. 1935.

64 J. R. Cruise, Special Branch, to Garda Commissioner, 14 Feb. 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/630).

65 The Blueshirt, 10 Nov. 1934.

66 Supt O’Shea, Cahir, to Chief Supt Quinn, 15 Jan. 1935 (N.A I., DJ JUS 8/624).

67 The Blueshirt, 12, 26 Jan. 1935.

68 Ibid., 9 Feb. 1935.

69 The Nation (formerly The Blueshirt), 22 June 1935.

70 Irish Independent, 23 Nov. 1932.

71 Irish Press, 1 July 1933.

72 Limerick Leader, 10 Nov. 1934.

73 J. R. Cruise, Special Branch, to Garda Commissioner, 14 Feb. 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/630).

74 Cork Examiner, 1 Feb. 1935.

75 Irish Press, 19 Feb. 1935.

76 Chief Supt, Cork, to Garda Commissioner, 17 Feb. 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/630).

77 Insp. Fahy to Chief Supt O’Halloran, 7 Feb. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/625).

78 Irish Independent, 22 Feb. 1935.

79 Ibid., 6 Mar. 1935.

80 Ibid., 9 Mar. 1935.

81 Irish Press, 25 Feb. 1935.

82 Cork Examiner, 3 Apr. 1935.

83 Chief Supt, Cork, to Garda Commissioner, 17 Apr. 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/630).

84 Chief Supt Quinn, Thurles, to Garda Commissioner, 4 Apr. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/632).

85 Supt Ó Fiodhabháir, Clonmel, to Chief Supt Quinn, 2 Mar. 1935 (ibid.).

86 Cork Examiner, 9 Apr. 1935.

87 Supt, Tipperary, to Chief Supt, Thurles, 6 May 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/630).

88 Chief Supt, Cork, to Garda Commissioner, 17 June 1935 (ibid.).

89 Irish Independent, 12 Feb. 1935; Irish Times, 22 Feb. 1935.

90 Limerick Leader, 27 Apr. 1935.

91 Insp. Ó Cuinneacháin to Chief Supt O’Halloran, 23 Jan. 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/610); Sergt R. Shea to O’Halloran, 30 Jan. 1935 (ibid.); O’Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 12 Mar. 1935 (ibid.).

92 Supt Colleran, Templemore, to Chief Supt Quinn, 8 Jan. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/603); Supt J. L. Murphy, Nenagh, to Quinn, 15 Apr. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/605).

93 Supt Ó Fiodhabháir, Clonmel, to Garda Commissioner, 11 May 1935 (ibid.). ‘Cronin supporters’ is a reference to Blueshirts, led by Ned Cronin, who remained loyal to the Fine Gael leadership.

94 Insp. W. Halloran, Garda Special Unit, to Garda Commissioner, 22 Feb. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/603 ); Supt Ó Fiodhabháir, Clonmel, to Chief Supt Quinn, 2 Mar. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/632).

95 Insp. Muldoon to Chief Supt Quinn, 10 May 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/605).

96 Irish Independent, 11 Feb. 1935.

97 Cork Examiner, 4 May 1935. Fahy was a former Director of Organisation for the National Farmers’ and Ratepayers’ League.

98 Insp. W. Halloran, Garda Special Unit, to Garda Commissioner, 11 May 1935 (N A I., DJ JUS 8/585).

99 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 24, 25 May 1935 (ibid.).

100 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 11 May 1935 (ibid.).

101 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 1 June 1935 (ibid.).

102 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 24 May 1935 (ibid.).

103 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 1 July 1935 (ibid., JUS 8/586).

104 Cork Examiner, 6 June 1935.

105 Insp. W. Halloran, Garda Special Unit, to Garda Commissioner, 18 May 1935 (N.A.I., DJ JUS 8/585).

106 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 1 July 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/586).

107 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 6 July 1935 (ibid.).

108 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 8 June 1935 (ibid.).

109 Halloran to Garda Commissioner, 20 July 1935 (ibid.).

110 Insp. W. J. McConville, Garda Special Unit, to Garda Commissioner, 17 Aug. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/587).

111 Insp. P. MacNamara to Garda Commissioner, 9 Aug. 1935 (ibid.).

112 Insp. J. Dunning, Garda Special Unit, to Garda Commissioner, 17 Mar. 1936 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/633).

113 Insp. W. J. McConville, Garda Special Unit, to Garda Commissioner, 8, 29 Jan. 1936 (ibid.).

114 Chief Supt Quinn, Thurles, to Garda Commissioner, 23 Sept. 1935 (ibid., DJ JUS 8/630).

115 Insp. J. J. Moore, Cashel, to Chief Supt Quinn, 17 Dec. 1935 (ibid.).

116 Chief Supt, Cork, to Garda Commissioner, 17 June 1936 (ibid.).

117 Bew et al., Dynamics of Irish politics, p. 50.

118 Compare the activities of the Cork Land Annuitants’ Defence Association with those of the Land League in County Cork during the mid-1880s as described in Donnelly, J. S. Jr., The land and the people of nineteenth-century Cork: the rural economy and the land question (London, 1975), pp 326–9Google Scholar.

119 Daly, First department, p. 50.

120 Statistical Abstract, 1937 (Dublin, 1938), p. 131.

121 Cork Examiner, 15 June 1936.

122 This article is based on research funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences, to whom I am most grateful. My appreciation is also due to the staffs of the National Archives, Dublin, University College Dublin Archives Department, Cork Archives Institute, and Cork County Library. Special thanks are due to Ms Eileen Kelly, Office Manager, Fine Gael headquarters, who granted me permission to consult the Fine Gael collection held in the National Archives.