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National Identity in Scotland and Ireland (Part Two)

© Simon Hill

In 1858 the Fenian Brotherhood was formed, a secret society aiming for Irish independence. They recruited anyone who was interested regardless of religion and encouraged the use of force against the British government but in March 1867 they were defeated. The Fenians caught were hung by the British government and came to be known as the Manchester Martyrs. Despite failing the Fenian movement seems to have inspired a renewed nationalism in Ireland. Isaac Butte, who had campaigned for the release of the Manchester Martyrs, founded the Home Rule Association in 1870. The movement was not universally supported but could act as an umbrella for those who were hostile towards the British. The 1874 election saw several home rulers returned but they remained isolated at Westminster. In 1877 Charles Parnell was elected to replace Butte as president of the Home Rule Association. He gained the support of the church and the Fenians and his militant parliamentarianism proved popular.

The Irish population was now much more politically active largely thanks to improved literacy and education this meant that Parnell’s movement could rely on mass support. In 1879 Parnell accepted leadership of the Irish National Land League and in 1880 gained chairmanship of the Irish Parliamentary Party. ‘Thus, slowly and imperfectly, was put together that strange and uneasy alliance of agrarian, constitutional, and physical force nationalism which was Parnellism.’ (2). In the 1885 election the nationalists won 85 seats including 17 in Protestant Ulster. In 1886 Parnell committed himself to Gladstone and the Liberal Party in the hope of gaining home rule thus ending the independence of the Irish home rule party. Parnell was involved in a scandal and fell from power shortly afterwards, Gladstone's home rule bill was defeated in 1893 and the Irish nationalists broke the Liberal pact. In 1899 the United Irish League was formed again combining nationalists to achieve home rule. The Government of Ireland Bill eventually brought home rule in 1912.

Despite the achievement of home rule there was the Easter Rising in 1916 which soured the British attitude. Independence was now the demand and by the end of the war Sinn Fein had taken over the nationalist tradition. This also coincided with the growth in size and activity of the Irish Republican Army who quickly slipped into the role of Catholic defenders and began killing Protestants. There was an Anglo-Irish settlement in 1921 followed by civil war in 1922, the partition was accepted and so Ireland was not wholly independent. Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail did well politically in the new independent Ireland and marched together in public with the IRA who continued their campaign of violence. Ireland proved itself as a sovereign independent state by remaining neutral in World War II.

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