EVEN THOUGH they shared the Opposition benches in the Dáil, and Labour was to help put Fianna Fáil into government a year later, relations between the two parties were not too good in 1931, especially when Fianna Fáil claimed to be representing railway workers who faced a cut in pay. The rivalry was music to the ears of the ruling Cumann na nGaedhael party, which enjoyed the following exchanges:
Yesterday Dáil Éireann was treated to the rather unusual experience of fireworks in question time, and, incidentally, to a spirited duel between Labour and the Opposition.
A certain amount of “bad blood” was evident. The Kildare by-election, undoubtedly, was responsible for some of it; but there were other causes, notably the part played by at least one Fianna Fáil member in the recent railway wages dispute.
Mr [Robert] Briscoe, the Opposition backbencher, who will get a place in the “Shadow Cabinet” if he is not more careful, started the trouble with a series of questions about the award of the Railway Wages Board.
He hinted darkly at a strike which would paralyse the metropolitan services unless the lower grades of railwaymen got a better deal.
Labour was distinctly annoyed. This looked too much as if somebody was trying to steal their thunder. They cast aspersions on Mr Briscoe’s bona fides. Who was he to talk about a strike when they were there to do it – if there was any strike in the offing. He was even accused of associating with blackleg railwaymen . . .
Shocking revelations of the “horrible past” of certain deputies were made when the House went on to discuss an amendment which Dr. Myles Keogh [Cumann na nGaedhael] had moved to Section Four [of the Finance Bill]. The doctor wanted Rugby and Association football to be placed on the same level as Gaelic football in the matter of income tax and other burdens.
It transpired (I think it was Dr Hennessy who made the shameful disclosure) that once upon a time even Mr de Valera had played Rugby.
Mr de Valera admitted the impeachment, but indicated that he was rather young at the time – he had not, as it were, come into full Gaelic manhood.
Then, Mr [Richard] Anthony, Cork’s Labour representative, sprang another surprise on the stunned House. Out of his own mouth he stood revealed as another who played this “foreign game”, once upon a time.
Back benchers of the Opposition, who had turned pale and shuddered when Mr de Valera’s dark past was revealed to them, braced themselves for the next blow, which, knowing their man, they felt sure Mr Anthony was going to deliver against their most cherished beliefs.
It came.
“And I can remember,” went on the Labour member, with an air of pleasant reminiscence, “at least a few games in which I gave Deputy de Valera a couple of hard knocks.”
It was too much! Bad enough to learn that one’s cherished leader had once played this foreign game, but to hear that he had been knocked about in the process by a member of the Labour Party was the last straw!
Blindly the anguished Gael backbenchers of Fianna Fáil arose and groped their way to the outer air . . .
The free vote [on the amendment] was rather instructive. President Cosgrave’s enthusiasm for the so-called Gaelic games carried him into the same Lobby as that former exponent of the Rugby code, Mr de Valera. Alone of the Opposition, Mr Briscoe voted with Doctor Myles Keogh.
The final score was:
Gaelic Code . . . 59
“Foreign” Games . . . 49