In 1932, the Army Comrades Association, a veterans' organization that became known as the Blueshirts, emerged as a force in Irish politics. The Blueshirts, who were led by Eoin O'Duffy, were a quasi-fascist movement that opposed the Fianna Fáil government and supported the pro-Treaty parties. The Blueshirts were a controversial and polarizing force in Irish politics, reflecting the tensions and uncertainties of the 1930s.

The Blueshirts are a subject of political poetry, with writers debating the nature of the movement and its threat to Irish democracy. The Blueshirts' militarism is often contrasted with the ideals of the republic, creating a tension that is explored in the poetry of the period. The Blueshirts' legacy is a recurring theme in Irish poetry, reflecting the anxieties of the interwar period.