The Army Comrades Association was established in Ireland in February 1932. Following the fashion of the private armies on the continent of the period they adopted a uniform from which it’s members were referred to as Blue Shirts. General Eoin O’Duffy, a former Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army and Commissioner of the Garda Siochana became the leader of the organisation. He renamed the movement the National Guard and organised marches, flags and salutes similar to those of Nazi Germany’s Brownshirts. In addition to these practices the movement espoused militant Catholicism, anti-communism and corporatism. It’s leaders refuted the branding of fascism directed towards them, arguing that they were simply defending democracy by protecting the Cumann na nGaedhael party from attacks on their meetings by the IRA. In August 1933, O’Duffy planned a large parade on Dublin that would stop at the Irish parliament and conduct speeches. The Irish authorities banned the march and declared the Blue Shirts an illegal organisation. In response to the ban the National Guard, Cumann na Gaedhael and the National Centre Party merged to form a new party called Fine Gael. The National Guard became the Young Ireland Association forming part of the youth wing of the party. On the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and following disagreements with his Fine Gael colleagues. O’Duffy began recruiting volunteers to go and fight in the war, he was supported by the Catholic church in Ireland and by right wing national newspapers. Around 750 Blue Shirts fought with the Nationalist Army in the war forming part of the XV Bandera Irlandesa del Terico of the Spanish Foreign Legion.

Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net