New Ideas for a New Century

1. New Ideas for a New Century Ireland Post 1900 Leaving Cert History

2. Griffith and Sinn Fein • Poor family • A printer • Joined Gaelic League and IRB • Believed in ‘inclusive nationalism’. Nationalism a commitment to Ireland. • Went to work in South Africa for a year • Returned 1898 and founded ‘The United Irishman’ newspaper (anniversary of 1798) to express republican views. • Many writers of the cultural revival contributed to the newspaper. • 1900 set up CumannnanGaedheal to spread cultural nationalism Griffith scorned Irish anglophiles.

3. Political Views • He was annoyed at the Home Rule Party for dumping Parnell. • 1900 set up CumannnanGaedheal to spread cultural nationalism. • He realised that most Irish people were not looking for a republic and looked for other ways. • 1904 ‘The Resurrection of Hungary’ • Griffith adapted this to Ireland: • Irish MPs would withdraw and together with County Councils set up a Council of 300 that would peacefully replace the British government. • A Dual Monarchy to appease unionists and ease British security fears. • Economic Views: • German economist Frederick List espoused protectionism and it had worked in Bismarck’s Germany. • This would have damaged big industries like brewing and shipbuilding but was popular with small business. Unionists not impressed.

4. 1905 Sinn Fein • A very good name. Self reliance Aims: • Withdrawal from Westminster • A national bank and Stock Exchange to finance industry • A merchant navy • A ‘buy Irish’ campaign • First party to accept women as full members • Looked promising in 1908 but then Home Rule got going in 1909 and the IRB became the organisation of Republicanism and support for Sinn Fein nearly died out. • Only the name remained important. • Griffith was almost bankrupt but persevered turning down better jobs. • Postponed his marriage for 15 years. • Then the ‘Sinn Fein Rebellion’ happened

5. D.P. Moran and the Catholic Identity • Middle class Catholic journalist. • Invented the terms ‘Irish Ireland’, ‘West Briton’ and ‘Seonin’ (little John Bull) • 1905 started weekly newspaper ‘The Leader’. Good articles made it a financial success. • Supported cultural nationalism and ‘buy Irish’ • Criticised the writers of the Irish Literary movement for using Irish culture to become popular in England. • Criticised corruption in the Home Rule Party • Opposed republicanism. • A bitter rival of Griffith • Believed that the Irish language and Catholicism were marks of Irishness. • Wanted the language to insulate us from ‘evil’ English ideas.

6. D.P. Moran and the Catholic Identity • Moran’s ideas were popular among educated middle class Catholics who resented the fact that banks, big business and good government jobs were in Protestant hands. • 1902 he helped to found ‘The Catholic Association’ to highlight this discrimination but it failed. • D.P. Moran did a lot to alienate unionists. Easy to conclude Home Rule = Rome Rule. • 1908 ‘Ne Temere’ by Pius X forbade mixed marriages unless children were raised Catholic. Also damaged relations with Protestants.

7. The Revival of the IRB • Had died out after the Phoenix Park murders and Parnell achievements. • The cultural revival helped to revive it. • Denis McCullough and Bulmer Hobson from Belfast set up the Dungannon Clubs. These were discussion groups. • Sean MacDiarmada cycled around the country recruiting young men into the IRB • 1909 Hobson and Countess Markieviec set up The Fiannaboyscouts. • Hobson set up the Irish Freedom newspaper. • By 1912 these young men of action controlled the Supreme Council • They wanted a small, well-disciplined secret organisation that infiltrated other bigger organisations (Sinn Fein, GAA, Gaelic League and Irish Volunteers.

8. Feminism and the Struggle for Women’s Rights • Women’s status • Up to 1860s once a woman married, her husband got her wealth and control of the children • Not many girls Secondary schools and no woman attended university up to 1880s • No vote • Work in the home not recognised • Very few jobs for women in Ireland. • Opportunities • Emigrate • Married women, usually protestant, did charity work • Nuns

9. Early Campaigns for Women’s Rights • Isabella Tod in Belfast and Anna Haslam in Dublin campaigned for property rights along with campaigners in Britain. By 1882 women had these rights. • Both these women worked to improve women’s education. • 1871 Tod set up the ‘Northern Ireland Society for Women’s Suffrage’ but achieved little by her death in 1896. • Haslam and her husband did the same in Dublin. • Both women were speaking to a largely Protestant audience. Todd Haslam