Oswald Mosley was the founder of the infamous British Union of Fascists. He first came to prominence by resigning from the Conservative Party over the Black and Tans’ atrocities in Ireland in 1920. He appeared on Gay Byrne’s Late Late Show in 1975 (linked below). Mosley moved 1/8 
to Ireland following WWII due to the hatred of him in England. He lived in Clonfert Palace in Galway, which burned down in 1954, something that devastated him. Throughout his career he tried to court the Irish vote in Britain, although this largely failed. Mosley was fond of 2/8
the Irish, and delivered toys to a local school in Killoran after a devastating storm which began the night his palace burned down. He repeated his record on Ireland, saying he would “get the blacks out of North Kensington” as he had gotten the Black and Tans out of Ireland. 3/8
The Irish government permitted Mosley’s presence under the promise that he would not interfere in domestic politics, and under their policy of encouraging wealthy English families to buy the old country houses of the gentry. Intelligence officers tracked his activities. 4/8
He used Ireland, and later France, as a base to encourage neo-fascist movements in Europe, although the Irish and British governments felt he was no longer a threat. At one stage, he debated Irish Taoiseach Jack Lynch, and also delivered a speech at Trinity College. 5/8
A brilliant article on Mosley’s time in Ireland is found in The Dublin Review here. Mosley said that Ireland was a free country, while England was “an island prison”, although he labelled Northern Ireland a Police State. 6/8 thedublinreview.com/article/mosley…
‘The day Irish and Jewish joined forces ...
It is possible that Mosley imagined the Irish Catholic immigrants living uncomfortably with their Jewish neighbours would come out and fight alongside the fascists, or at least stay out of the fray.’ 7/8 google.ie/amp/s/www.iris…
It is possible that Mosley imagined the Irish Catholic immigrants living uncomfortably with their Jewish neighbours would come out and fight alongside the fascists, or at least stay out of the fray.’ 7/8 google.ie/amp/s/www.iris…
Linked below is 12 minutes of audio from Mosley’s appearance on the Late Late Show in 1975. RTÉ erased the original tape, and this is just one (particularly contentious) part of his full appearance. 8/8 rte.ie/archives/2020/…
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