Analysis: General election rallies in the 1920s and 1930s regularly featured lively clashes between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael supporters
After enjoying a relatively harmonious four years in coalition with the Green Party since 2020, one might think that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - two of the biggest political rivals in the history of the state - have set aside their differences. Born from opposing sides of the Irish Civil War, with Cumann na nGaedheal (now Fine Gael) being formed by those who supported the Treaty in 1923 and Fianna Fáil being formed in 1926 by those who stood against it, these parties have a shared history, marked by intense and sometimes pretty violent confrontations.
Take, for example, the 1947 clash between Fianna Fáil's Joe Kennedy and Fine Gael’s James Coburn, who famously took their dispute "outside" after a heated debate. Or, the 1952 altercation involving Fianna Fáil’s Deputy Flynn and Fine Gael’s Deputies O'Flanagan and Dillon, which erupted in the Dáil restaurant and allegedly even led to an usher being assaulted.
These altercations didn’t just stay within the walls of the Dáil but also influenced how supporters of each party interacted on the streets. Here are five moments when these two political giants and their supporters went head-to-head in early 20th-century Ireland.
The Cavan Rally Scuffle
In the tense run-up to the 6th Dáil elections in September 1927, Cumann na nGaedheal’s Ernest Blythe took to a makeshift stage atop a motor lorry to rally supporters in Co Cavan. Every male crowd member had a stick or a whip, arriving straight from a cattle fair and these weapons were subsequently brought into play. Blythe’s speech aimed at Éamon de Valera, disparaging him as "a prince" living it up in luxury in America while Michael Collins was fighting for the Irish people.
The taunt didn’t sit well with the Fianna Fáil supporters in attendance. Chants of 'Up De Valera!' filled the air, and the tension escalated as scuffles broke out. Gardaí were called in to break up the brawls, but not before a few injuries were sustained. One particularly vocal heckler ended up bloodied after being punched in the jaw and left on the ground with blood pouring from his mouth.
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From RTE Archives, Brian Farrell interviews 1916 survivor Earnán de Blaghd (Ernest Blythe) in 1965 for RTÉ News
Despite the violence, Blythe continued with his speech, even calling de Valera "an unteachable fool." The crowd responded with more shouts of 'Up De Valera!" before getting back into fisticuffs with Cumann na nGaedheal supporters. By the end, sticks and fists had left several attendees nursing bruises, and one middle-aged man was seen with a split nose, blood streaming down his face.
Kilmallock Riot
Following their electoral defeat in 1932, Cumann na nGaedheal was quick to try and regain support. On October 9th, they held a rally in Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Fianna Fáil supporters arrived in force, wielding banners proclaiming loyalty to de Valera with slogans like 'Kilmallock Stands Behind de Valera.' Gardaí and members of the Army Comrades Association (Blueshirts) tried to keep the crowd in check, but the arrival of FF supporters shifted the atmosphere from tense to volatile.
As Richard Mulcahy attempted to speak from a lorry platform, chants of 'Up, De Valera!' clashed with responses of 'Up Cosgrave!' from Cumann na nGaedheal supporters. Armed with hurleys and poles, Fianna Fáil protesters pushed through the crowd, causing a massive disruption. Stones began to fly, and in the chaos, two shots were fired. The crowd scattered momentarily, only to regroup. By the end of the day, multiple injuries were reported, and the property damage was significant, with windows shattered in nearby homes and businesses.
From British Pathé, scuffles and fights break out between the police and members of the crowd during a De Valera election campaign speech in Dublin in 1932
The Fight for Waterford
Cumann na nGaedheal’s campaign in Waterford in December 1932 during the 1933 General Election campaign saw another round of violence. As Cumann na nGeadheal candidate Bridget Redmond delivered a speech, Fianna Fáil supporters clashed with their political rivals. Tensions simmered throughout the event, with a number of scuffles breaking out between the two parties. It wasn’t unusual for political meetings to devolve into shouting matches and physical confrontations by this point.
The Dublin North Selection Convention
The January 1933 convention in Dublin North was another flashpoint. Now an opposition party, Cumann na nGaedheal adopted a nationalist tone (perhaps trying to copy the Fianna Fáil moniker of the 'Republican Party’?), calling for Irish unity and blaming England for partition. This rhetorical shift didn’t go unnoticed, and Fianna Fáil supporters showed up in force to disrupt the event.
The scene quickly descended into chaos as protesters rushed the stage, managing to collapse the platform. The disruptions got international attention, with reports describing the event as "wild." Windows at nearby Parnell Square were smashed, and it took the presence of a significant number of Blueshirts to maintain some semblance of order.
From British Pathé, coverage of Ireland going to the polls in 1933
Claremorris Fair Day Chaos
The May 1937 Fair Day rally in Claremorris was a particularly tense occasion. After sustained attacks by Fine Gael towards the new 1937 constitution draft in the Dáil, Fianna Fáil TDs Michael Cleary, Edward Moane and J.E. McEllin faced a hostile crowd of Fine Gael supporters.
The hecklers were unrelenting, shouting 'what about the Republic now?' and interrupting the speakers. As Moane defended Fianna Fáil's achievements, a voice yelled back 'and we still are disillusioned!'. Physical fighting broke out at the edge of the gathering, an
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil maintained a fierce rivalry for nearly a century, rooted in their Civil War origins and marked by numerous clashes, inside and outside the Dáil, before they joined forces in a coalition government with the Green Party in 2020. As another general election approaches, it remains uncertain whether these two dominant parties can sustain their alliance or if they will once again return to their roles as political adversaries. With shifting political landscapes and changing public sentiments, whether Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will continue their collaboration or explore new coalition possibilities in 2025 adds yet another chapter to their complex and storied relationship.
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