The History of Irish Republicanism
Irish Republicanism was an extremist splinter from Irish Nationalism, and ties the majority of its foundational beliefs to Nationalism.
Brief
The modern concept of Irish republicanism originates in UK prisons like Frongoch internment camp. This is where many of the imprisoned rebels adopted beliefs of Marxist, socialist and “progressive views” on what Irish republicanism means. Focusing less on the nation (ethnicity and culture) and more on the state. It became about class and other nations' freedom from “imperialism”(ex. Palestine).
Do these beliefs of anti-Imperialism and state fanaticism without regard for ethnic demographics align with the origins of Irish republicanism? Well, I’ll be breaking down the history of Irish republicanism and comparing modern ideas to the historical foundations.
Context
Irish republicanism was an extremist splinter from Irish nationalism, and ties the majority of its foundational beliefs to nationalism, often to this day Sinn Féin is considered to be the nationalistic party to older generations. Despite its move to more Marxist and globalist beliefs.
History of Irish Nationalism.
Irish nationalism is typically said to have emerged following the Protestant Reformation as a resistance to the Protestants in England. The vision of Irish nationalism was to unite the Gaeil (native Irish) and Gaill (Norman Irish) under an ethnic and catholic identity. Promoting the Ideals of an Irish motherland intertwined with faith. This national identity was set to undertake its first round of Protestant plantations following the Tutor conquest of Ireland. The national identity was successful in withstanding adoption of foreign faith and foreign ideals. Irish nationalist aristocrats waged multiple rebellions during the well known and successful Ulster Plantations. Which began in 1609, as the Scottish and North-English
Protestants replaced native landowners. In the following decades the War of the Three Kingdoms saw Ireland declare herself a confederacy. Then an Irish nationalist backed monarchist movement that supported James II. In hopes of an Ireland within the UK, with the ability of the Irish people to self govern and practise the catholic faith.
That is the backbone of Irish nationalism before the 1800s.
Fenians and early Republicans.
The turn of the 19th century saw the seedlings of the Irish republican movement. After the abolition of the Act of Union, all Irish members of parliament were situated in London. The Society of United Irishmen, a protestant lead group. Began a rebellion in 1798, followed by another rebellion in 1803, both of which failed. Members of Young Ireland produced a nationalist rebellion in 1848 in south Tipperary. After another failed rebellion the remaining members fled to the United States and formed the Fenian Brotherhood. Which began the Fenian movement, which sought to end British occupation in Ireland. The movement included the Irish Republican Brotherhood, both of which staged the Fenian Rising of 1867.
The Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was orchestrated by Tom Clarke and Seán MacDermott, whom were part of the IRB. Members of the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army seized control over key parts of Dublin proclaiming an Irish Republic. This rising, like most others, failed, and did not harness the support of the people. Following the executions of the rebel leaders sympathy began to foster. In the following years and the formation of the Irish Republican Army a war was waged, and won, as we all know. The fruits of victory lead to the Free State, then to the Irish Republic we know today.
Yet the history of republicanism does not end with a hurrah.
1970 - 1998
In the 1970s the Republican movement began to have its own “civil war”. Left leaning members pushed a new and fashionable Marxist-Leninist political view, which attracted youth with its idealist beliefs. This caused a major split in the IRA, as traditionalists opposed foreign systems of thought, and fought solely for the Irish Nation. The IRA had now become two factions. The Official IRA (Leftist), and The Provisional IRA (Right-wing). The Provo’s began large-scale attacks on British targets, leading the most successful campaign since the release of the Irish state from crown rule.
Modern Republicanism
Sinn Féin, although allied with the Provo’s, began to drift towards status quo leftist beliefs. Leading to the claim by modern republicans, that the history of Irish freedom is that of socialist and more importantly Marxist origins. As discussed in this article, the involvement of leftist frameworks were not in use until very late on in Irish history. Only peeking its head in the 70s. Ant-imperialism is a huge claim, and rightfully so. As the history of rebellions were waged against a foreign kingdom, yet it was not anti-imperialism rather anti-foreign rule. This is backed by the fact Irish nationalist had supported the monarchy (Jacobite’s), when it would benefit the nation. Furthermore the most impactful Irish freedom movements have been traditional nationalists like the Provo’s. Whom distained the Marxist Official IRA.
Its our imperative to preserve our own nation, just as our ancestors had.
Tá Dia le hÉirinn.
- GaelZoomer
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