31st Eucharistic Congress 1932
Dublin
Promoting Cultural Identity in the Irish Free
State
Rationale for Staging Congress
 Irish Free State founded in December 1921
 Vast majority of Population was Catholic (Protestant/ Unionist fears)
 Irish Free State established diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1929
 Pope Pius XI agreed to Ireland staging the Eucharistic Congress in 1932 (to
commemorate the anniversary of St. Patrick arriving in Ireland in 432 AD)
Eucharistic Congress held every 3 years around the world
 Opportunity for Ireland to promote both its Catholic culture & allegiance and its
ability to stage world events, underlining its right to be independent
Securing & Organising the Eucharistic
Congress
W.T. Cosgrave
President of Executive
Council
Eoin O’Duffy
Garda Commissioner
Build-up to Congress 1931 - 1932

Eoin O’Duffy was given the job of organising the Eucharistic
Congress

O’Duffy spent a year organising housing & accommodation for
all the visitors and participants in the Eucharistic Congress

Every parish and diocese organised fundraising for travel to
Dublin and bunting, flags & banners to be displayed at the
Congress

Prayer meetings were held throughout the country, bringing a
sense of occasion & celebration to the practise of the Catholic
faith
General Election 1932

To prevent the Eucharistic Congress clashing with a
scheduled General Election in late1932, Cosgrave
brought the election forward to February.

Cosgrave lost the election, so now Eamon deValera &
Fianna Fáil would take over government and reap the
benefit of its association & success
Preparations for 20th June 1932



Eucharistic Congress
was scheduled to begin
20th June, 1932.
In the months previous,
large-scale decorations and
improvements were made
throughout Dublin city
centre.
Bunting was erected
throughout the city and
altars built. Painting
facades became
commonplace
throughout the city
Papal Legate arrives in Dublin
20th June 1932
Cardinal Lorenzo Lauri, the Papal Legate, arrives in Dun Laoghaire on
board The Cambria to preside over the 31st Eucharistic Congress.
Symbolism of Church-State
Relationship

Air Corps welcome for Papal Legate
(in the shape of a cross) underlined
the State’s commitment to a Catholic
identity

The large military presence and
display, including the Hussars, specially
dressed for the Legate’s arrival, also
underlined the State’s total
commitment to a Catholic Identity

The subservient nature of both Bishops
and politicians served to underline the
spiritual authority and to a lesser
degree, the political influence of the
Church over the State.
Diaspora Returns:
Catholics arrive in Dublin

Catholics from around the
Europe & the world came to
Dublin to attend the 31st
Eucharistic Congress
Many Irish-Americans
attended. Many of these
Irish-Americans had parents
& grandparents who
emigrated during and after
the Great Famines of the
1840’s

Many of these IrishAmericans came both as
an expression of their faith
and an opportunity to
celebrate the
independence of their
‘homeland’.
*Opportunity to strengthen IrishAmerican ties, culturally and
economically
Congress Week

Special day of celebrations for men, women & children

Phoenix Park was the centre for each day’s celebrations

300 Bishops & Archbishops attended

Special altar built in Phoenix Park

Altar also built on O’Connell Bridge

Cardinal Lauri celebrated mass in the Pro-Cathedral
Phoenix Park Celebrations
(22nd – 26th June)
Pius XI’s broadcast
message from
Vatican to Phoenix
Park
Blackrock College Garden Party

Garden Party attended by
10,000 people
Final Mass Sunday, 26th June 1932

Almost 25% of the Irish Free
State’s population attended the
final mass on Sunday in the
Phoenix Park

After the mass, four processions
left the Park and travelled to
O’Connell Bridge for the final
blessing and closing of the
Eucharistic Congress by Cardinal
Lauri. Approximately 500,000
people attended.
Reflections on Eucharistic Week
“I confess I was myself enough of an outsider to feel flash through my mind,
as the illimitable multitude began to melt away towards the gates and roads
and bridges, the instantaneous thought "This is Democracy; and everyone is
saying there is no such thing.”


G.K. Chesterton
“Here men and women are proud to give evidence of their Faith: proud of
being sons and daughters of the dead and gone Catholics who kept the flame
alive in evil days of persecution and spoliation.”


Dundalk Democrat
Why was the Eucharistic Congress
Important to the Irish Free State?

It showed the new Irish State could organise and stage major world events

It helped to heal the divisions of the Civil War and unite people of different
political allegiances after ten years of bitter political in-fighting (Cumann na
nGaedhael v. Fianna Fáil)

It underlined the Catholic identity of the Irish Free State, as a definitive
contrast to the British Anglican (Protestant) identity

It also helped DeValera to assert a close relationship with the Catholic
Church, in particular with Bishop John Charles McQuaid, who would have a
strong influence on the character of the 1937 Bunreacht na hEireann

Those who had been excommunicated during and after the Civil War were
welcomed back into the religious community of the Catholic Church
Impact of Congress:
Church & State
The State

Successful and hugely popular event
cemented the State’s legitimacy &
international profile

Politicians, like DeValera, achieved
great political and social capital by
association with the Congress

The State would come to rely heavily
on the Church for many of its own
central social duties; education &
health would be dominated by the
Catholic Church for decades to come
The Church

The Catholic Church in Ireland
was the biggest winner. The
hegemony of Catholicism was now
absolute in the Irish Free State,
politically & socially

Bishop John Charles McQuaid
achieved enormous political capital
in relation to his own career. He
would later be made an
Archbishop on DeValera’s
recommendation
Wider Impacts of Eucharistic Congress
‘A Catholic State for a Catholic People’

Solidified partition: culturally, religiously & politically

Heightened Protestant fears and marginalisation within Irish
Free State and subsequent Republic

Modern Ireland: Loudspeakers, logistics of large-scale
modern travel. Also, Pope Pius XI’s message of goodwill
on radio brought Ireland onto the world stage and
cemented the Irish self-image of modernity & independence
1932 – 1979:
The ‘Catholic State’ of Ireland
Between 1932 and 1979, when Pope John Paul II came on an official state visit to the Republic
of Ireland, Catholicism enjoyed an almost unopposed position in Irish society. It’s influence on
Irish political affairs was considerable also.
Exam Questions
“To what extent did the 1932 Eucharistic Congress and/or the
language and education policies of Irish Governments promote Irish
cultural identity?”


2010 LC Exam
“What attempts were made to promote cultural identity, North &
South, during the period 1912 – 1945?”



“What was the significance of the Eucharistic Congress 1932 for
the Irish Free State?”


2009 LC Exam
2008 LC Exam
“How was cultural identity promoted in Ireland, North & South,
between 1920 & 1949?”

2007 LC Exam
Essay Plan
Essay Plan
Introduction: Creating an Irish State Cultural Identity (Background Context)
Paragraph 1: Setting & Significance of 31st Eucharistic Congress (Diaspora &
international nature of Congress )
Paragraph 2: Planning & Symbolism
Paragraph 3: Modern Ireland as portrayed by Eucharistic Congress
Paragraph 4: Church-State Relationship
Paragraph 5: Impacts on Irish Free State (Social & Political)
Conclusion: Legacies & impacts of 31st Eucharistic Congress on Irish Free
State
Introduction:
Creating an Irish Cultural Identity
Irish Free State – ‘dominion’ of British Commonwealth/ unstable & damaged
socially by Civil War/
Eucharistic Congress granted by Pope Pius XI after Irish Free State established
diplomatic relations in 1929/
W.T. Cosgrave’s decision to bring the election forward to avoid the Congress
would be a turning point in DeValera’s relationship with Conservative
elements in Ireland, especially the Church.
Opportunity for young Irish State to show its independence, politically &
culturally: define its cultural identity
Thereby, strengthening Irish ambitions for greater autonomy (Ironically, the
Congress would also strengthen partition at a cultural level)
Paragraph 1: Setting & Significance

Eucharistic Congress held every three years: the ‘Catholic Olympic Games’
i.e. a world event, attended by a vast international mix

Irish Diaspora Returns to Ireland; particularly the Irish-American contingent,
would associate the success and socially-upward Irish-Americans with
young Irish Free State (many of whose grandparents had left during famine
& social disintegration of many parts of Ireland

International Catholicism: G.K. Chesterton, an English Catholic writer, was
one of thousands of foreigners who attended the 1932 Eucharistic
Congress. Presence of British, French, American, German & Italian Catholics
greatly projected the ambition & unity of the young Irish Free State as a modern
state
Paragraph 2: Planning & Symbolism

Arrival of Papal Legate, Cardinal Lorenzo Lauri, on June 20th 1932, marked
the beginning of the 31st International Eucharistic Congress.

Irish Air Corps performed a fly-by in the formation of a Christian Cross.
Signifies the complete State commitment to Catholicism and Papal Legate’s
presence.

Irish Hussar Cavalry, specially commissioned for the occasion, served as a
guard of honour for the Legate.

DeValera & Cosgrave, representing both major parties in Irish Free State,
walked together in procession during the Congress. (symbolising the
healing/ unifying nature of the Eucharistic Congress)
Paragraph 3: Modern Ireland

Planning & Logistics: 1 million people arrived in Dublin, approximately 25%
of the Irish Free State population. Trains and buses carried most of the
travelling attendees.

Eoin O’Duffy spent a year planning the logistics of accommodation,
procession and organisation of all the attendants at the Phoenix Park.
Large-scale bunting, decorations were prominent throughout the city.

Loudspeakers & Radio: The use of loudspeakers was a novelty at this time,
and essential to the crowd of 1 million at the Congress in Phoenix Park.
Pope Pius XI’s radio broadcast from the Vatican to the Congress in Dublin
underlined the promise & reality of modernisation & progress in Ireland.

Ocean Liners berthed in Dublin harbour acted as ‘floating hotels’
P. 4: Church-State Relationship

For a year before the Congress, every parish & diocese in Irish Free State
was busily preparing for the event. Prayer meetings, discussions & fund-raising
created a sense of celebration of Catholicism throughout the country.

Bishop John Charles McQuaid ensured before the Congress began that
both Cosgrave & DeValera would act in a dignified manner, deliberately
putting politics second to the cultural event about to take place.

DeValera & many of the Fianna Fáil members, some of whom had been
excommunicated during the Irish Civil War of 1922 – 23, were welcomed
back into the fold of the Catholic community in Ireland. Indeed, this would be
the beginning of the considerable influence of both McQuaid & Catholicism over
DeValera’s social & political policies to come.

State was now portrayed as a totally Catholic State, and Church influence on
education & health would be considerable over the next five decades
P. 5: Political & Social
Impacts on Irish Free State

Church-State relationship firmly established: 1937 Bunreacht na hEireann
would recognise the “special position” that the Catholic Church enjoyed.
Significance of this cannot be over-stated: Irish State would entrust a very
large section of its duties (health & education) to the Church to oversee
and run

Inadvertently strengthened partition and polarised the cultural differences
between North & South

DeValera & Fianna Fáil associated with the success of the Eucharistic
Congress
Conclusion:
Legacy & Impacts (1932 – 1979)

Irish Free State’s need for a distinct, unifying cultural identity to a) promote & legitimise Irish
independence and b) to heal and unify political divisions following bitterness of Irish Civil War

1932 would mark the beginning of a decade of international turmoil during which DeValera &
the Irish Free State would exercise a very prominent voice in international affairs at the League of
Nations. 1932 Eucharistic Congress served as a vital international advertisement of the Irish
Free State & its political & social values

Church would exercise a near 50-year hegemony (domination) over political & social matters.
Contraception & Divorce remained illegal up until the late 1980’s & 1990’s. Also, the Church
would dominate Irish Education. The influence of the Church on Bunreacht na hEireann (1937) was
considerable.

Partition was strengthened by the overt nature of the State’s commitment to the Eucharistic
Congress and served to marginalise Protestants within the Irish Free State.

Papal visit in 1979 by Pope John Paul II marked the beginning of a social decline after a period
of extremely intimate church-state relationship (1932 – 1979)