Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, 1920-1932: A Comparative Study
inexperienced which very likely negatively impacted upon governmental
efficacy (Follis 1995: 47).
In the field of local government, the two States faced a very similar problem. Throughout both polities, many urban and district councils simply
rejected the legitimacy of the presiding government and refused to swear
the obligatory oath of fidelity to the new State. The Northern Irish Parliament suspended Dublin-loyal councils openly flouting its legitimacy
and assumed direct rule. Cumann na nGaedheal followed Northern Ireland’s lead, but for the Irish Free State, dissolving renegade councils
was more a matter of principle, whereas in Northern Ireland UUP possession of a council was perceived as highly favourable in anticipation
of the Boundary Commission’s investigations.5 Eliminating the threat
posed by rebel councils was vital for the Northern Ireland’s survival as
a six-county State-let and copper-fastening Unionist rule (Farrell 1980:
86). Likewise, the Irish Free State Minister for Local Government was
entrusted with considerable power over local authorities; it was the Minister’s prerogative to suspend a council if he alone deemed it “negligent
or incompetent” (Gwynn 1928: 395).
Nationalism(s)
Both States strived to cultivate a distinct national identity, but for different political ends. For Cosgrave, Irish political autonomy provided
the long-sought means to project a discrete Irish identity internationally,
albeit within the permissible constraints of British dominion status. Cultivating international awareness by disseminating “an exaggerated popular nationalism” was deemed imperative and, ultimately, a successful
project was energetically embraced by Cumann na nGaedheal (Garvin
5 The
Boundary Commission was sold to the SF plenipotentiaries during the Anglo-Irish
Treaty negotiations as a means of pruning Northern Ireland. Knowledge of this significantly contributed to the sense of UUP unease about the long-term survival of Northern
Ireland.
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