Rebels and Rustici: Students and the Formation of the Irish State

Abstract

The early twentieth century was a time of much political turmoil and uncertainty for the Irish nation. Many groups were keen to play their role in the development of the modern Ireland and university students saw an ability to carve for themselves future roles in this new country. They believed their status afforded them liberties in social commentary, political agitation and social contribution, and they worked and founded a number of groups to advance this. The students of pre-independence Ireland saw themselves as the future ruling class of a new country; one ruled from home but under dominion. The First World War and the 1916 Rising destroyed this dream, and the execution of the leaders of the Rising, and of a student by the name of Kevin Barry in the subsequent War of Independence, marked a seismic shift in the attitudes of students, and the nation, towards Home Rule and the Empire. Students quickly cemented their role as a political voice and were an important element of the nationalist movement, swelling the ranks of volunteer militia organisations, sworn to protect Ireland and her people. They were facilitated at public meetings with much weight attributed to their contributions. This chapter explores the development of the Irish student movement and the important role students played in the development of nationalism in Ireland and Irish identity. It discusses the impact of the various student protests, organisations and activities and examines speeches and the relationship and status of student opinion in national media. Student movements have a tendency to romanticise nationalism, and students are often the cannon fodder for nationalist revolutions. Irish students were no different. They participated in the Rising and the War of Independence, and took defiant positions during Larkin’s 1913 Lockout and the first elections of the Irish Free State. They also vehemently opposed the Irish fascist group, ‘The Blueshirts’. Ultimately, however, the civil and social contributions were not rewarded by the state: once independence was won, the promised social revolution disappeared, youth and student movements were abandoned and young people were not prioritised.