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Ireland- Eire

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Title: Ireland- Eire


1
Ireland- Eire
  • Constructing The Republic

2
IRELAND
3
Ireland-Eire
  • Ireland stands apart from the other Celtic
    countries and regions quite obviously because of
    its status.
  • So far, The Republic of Ireland is the only one
    of those nations to reach the status of
    independent sovereign state.
  • But the history of Ireland does not compare
    easily to that of say, Wales, Scotland and
    Brittany.

4
Ireland-todays structures
  • Even if the influence of Britain as an imperial
    power and later as post-modern multiculticural
    remains primordial in both Wales and Scotland (
    the UK), the relationship between the British
    State and the island of Ireland up until c1920
    was of a quite different order.

5
Ireland-todays structures
  • The imprint of the British State on Ireland in
    structural terms can be seen to this day in the
    Irish judiciary, some political frameworks, and
    urban culture.
  • A walk around the older parts of Dublin.
  • Probably the most lasting element of Irelands
    colonial past is the English language itself,
    albeit in an Irish garb.
  • The Irish Language ( An Ghaeilge)

6
Georgian Dublin
7
Ireland-todays structures
  • The key to an understanding of Ireland today, and
    the existence of Northern Ireland still, lies in
    the realization that Ireland by the 1900s was
    attempting to emerge from an entirely colonial
    structure imposed by the UK over the centuries.

8
Ireland-todays structures
  • Again, one of the major differences between
    Ireland and the other Celtic countries is that
    Wales and Scotland were integrated politically
    into the UK (Acts of Union) which were largely
    accepted by the political classes of both
    countries by the 19th century.
  • The Welsh gentry of the pre 1540s sought for such
    an Act because it would allow them to be treated
    no longer as foreigners but as fully-fledged
    members of the Tudor elite.

9
Ireland
  • In Scotland too, and especially after the defeat
    of the Clans in the mid 18th century, there was a
    sense amongst the Lowlanders at least that they
    were northern Britons.
  • Incipient nationalism was in both countries
    non-violent, and often the aim was not
    independence but various forms of autonomy (19th
    century).

10
Ireland-todays structures
  • Ireland although very much under British rule
    from the 16-17th centuries onwards, only ever
    became conjoined to the United Kingdom
    constitutionally in 1800 with an Act of Union
    which brought the Irish Parliament to an end.
  • Henry VIII had declared himself King of Ireland
    in 1541.

11
Military resistance in Wales and Scotland
  • Any real military resistance to British rule in
    Wales came to an end c1415 with the end of the
    Owain Glyndwr revolt (we would say insurgency
    today)
  • Although not an out and out defeat, too many of
    Glyndwrs supporters in the gentry were losing
    heart and giving in to blandishments from the
    enemy side.

12
Ireland-todays structures
  • In Scotland the whole tradition of uprisings was
    entwined in the Jacobean revolts of the 17th and
    18th century. Gaelic Scotland was the great
    loser, and Lowlander Scotland was the great
    winner.
  • There would be no more military risings in
    Scotland. Major change would only begin in the
    later 20th century in an entirely democratic
    setting.

13
In Brittany
  • In Brittany, the nearest one can come to a
    popular rising by Bretons belongs to the period
    of the French revolution (end of 1790s).
  • The so-called chouannerie were pro-Royalist
    Breton militia men who were against the
    revolution because it was deemed to be
    anti-Catholic, and anti-Breton in tone.

14
Ireland-todays structures
  • Returning to Ireland it is clear that the
    situation faced by the UK in its dealings with
    Ireland (since c1600) was entirely different.
  • Firstly, the situation in Ireland was infinitely
    more unbalanced.
  • Political and military resisitence to the British
    military presence was much more organized and
    present.
  • Most importantly, Ireland had a tradition of
    Risings.

15
Ireland-todays structures
  • The British had from an early date been obliged
    to deal with hostile and less hostile members of
    the native nobility who had run Ireland on their
    behalf for generations.
  • Although Ireland had rarely possessed a monarchy
    of its own for the whole island, it did have many
    regional kings who through a system of
    clientship ruled the island.
  • But this was no longer the case after c1200

16
Ireland-todays structures
  • Several of the native aristocracy were appointed
    by the British powers to positions such as High
    Deputy of Ireland.
  • Henry VIII had himself declared himself king of
    Ireland in 1541.
  • More than anything, the 16th century saw the
    beginnings of real settlements (or colonies) deep
    in the Irish rural areas as a means of bring
    protestantism to Ireland.

17
Ireland and religion
  • This was another element which set Ireland apart
    from the other major Celtic countries in their
    dealings with the colonial or semi-colonial
    power.
  • Wales became protestant by c1620 the Lowlands of
    Scotland had spearheaded the rise and spread of
    that religion in Scotland. It reached as far as
    the catholic Highlands, so that today only a few
    of the Gaelic speaking islands remain Catholic.

18
Ireland and Religion
  • Ireland was a very different case. Ireland was
    solidly Catholic until the beginnings of the
    settlements on a large scale in the late 1500s.
  • Religion became a highly politicised issue.
    Britain by becoming Protestant put itself under
    threat from other European countries especially
    Spain and France. (eg Queen Elizabeth I was in
    frequent danger of assassination)
  • Hence, for the English it was essential that its
    colony Ireland should become protestant as a
    means of defending the islands from Catholic
    attack.

19
Ireland and its rebellions
  • This is why the history of Ireland from c1590
    becomes violent, uncompromisingly so as Britain
    tries to impose an ever greater colonial grip on
    Ireland.
  • It demanded that the native leaders (the old
    Gaelic aristocracy) became Protestant otherwise
    they would lose their lands, their position, and
    be exiled.

20
Ireland and Religion
  • In the influx of Protestant yeomen from Northern
    England and Southern Scotland intensifies during
    the century from 1590.
  • In particular Ulster goes from being one of the
    most die-hard Gaelic speaking and nationalist
    areas, to that of Irelands most Protestant and
    Loyalist areas, giving rise in later centuries to
    Northern Ireland (partition) and the Troubles in
    the 1970s-1990s).

21
Ireland-todays structures
  • This period (c1550-1620) has all the hallmarks of
    a classic colonial situation where the military
    is of paramount importance.
  • Rebellions become relatively common throughpot
    Ireland, and will set the scene for later Irish
    experience in modern times.
  • Systematic suppression of rebel forces in
    Leinster (SE) and Munster (SW) leading to the
    death of the Earl of Desmond (prominent Irish
    leader).

22
Ireland-some rebellions
  • 1592- Red Hugh ODonnell seeks to expel all
    English officials from the lordship of Tyrconnell
    (NW).
  • 1593- Ulster rebels. Help sought from Catholic
    Spain.
  • 1601 Defeat for the rebel army with Spanish at
    Kinsale.

23
Ireland-todays structures
  • There was a tradition of rebellions and uprising
    in the following century too.
  • Owen Roe ONeill (Ulster Catholic Army) 1648
  • 1663 Closure of court of claims for Irish lands,
    its business unfinished.

24
Ireland-todays structures
  • William of Orange defeats the Jacobin forces
    under James II at Battle of the Boyne 1690.
  • Wolfe Tones rebellion 1798
  • Robert Emmetts rising 1803.
  • By then most people might be willing to pay lip
    service to the idea of Ireland taking her play in
    the concert of nations, but fewer were ready to
    take any action.

25
Protestant Ireland
26
Ireland-todays structures
  • From 1801 Ireland had no parliament of its own.
  • A small number of Irish MPs (Protestant
    landowners) sat in Westminster.
  • Thomas Davis and Young Ireland, 1840s
  • 1848 Rebellion.
  • Late 19th century Land Reform and National
    Independence. IRB. 1858.

27
Ireland-todays structures
  • The Fenians- rejected attempts to gain
    independence as futile.
  • Armed uprising in 1867 (a token gesture).
  • Home Rule (separate parliament subordinate to
    London). Eventually led by Charles Stewart
    Parnell.
  • National land league (1879-1882)
  • Their campaigns were successful. Theold landlord
    system was abolished, and ownership transferred
    to the tenants.

28
Ireland-todays structures
  • Various attempts to get Home Rule legislation
    through the Westminster parliament failed
    (1886-1914)
  • The importance of cultural nationalism. The
    Gaelic League. (the revival of the Irish language
    on a nationwide basis).
  • Sinn Fein -1905 the idea that Irish MPs should
    not sit in Westminster.
  • Irish Citizen Army (socialist but also
    separatist). 1913.

29
Ireland-todays structures
  • Irishmen were encouraged to enlist in the British
    Army during the WW1 because it was argued that
    this would sustain British support for Home Rule.
  • Obviously not believing this, the Irish
    Volunteers (led by Patrick Pearse) and the Irish
    Citizen Army led by James Connolly staged a
    rebellion against British Rule This was the
    Easter Rising of 1916.

30
Ireland-todays structures
  • The decision by the British authories to execute
    several of the leaders alienated public opinion.
  • In the 1918 election Sinn Fein won nearly all the
    seats.
  • They now constituted themselves as the first
    Dail, or independent parliament in Dublin.
  • The Dail was led by Eamon De Valera (Dev).

31
E. De Valera
32
Twentieth century
  • Following attempts by the British to destroy Sinn
    Fein, a War of Independence broke out in 1919-21.
    the Irish forces were led by Michael Collins.
  • Guerilla war. A truce was signed leading to the
    1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
  • The 26 counties gained independence as the Irish
    Free State (Saorstat na hEireann).
  • Six Ulster counties were given their own
    parliament in 1920, and remained in the United
    Kingdom.

33
Twentieth century
  • This treaty led to a civil war which lasted until
    1923 between those who accepted the Treaty and
    the partition of Ireland, and those, led by Eamon
    De Valera who were opposed.
  • The first government of the new State was headed
    by William T Cosgrave (Cumann na nGaedheal, later
    Fine Gael).
  • De Valeras opposition aprty was called Fianna
    Fail and they came to power in 1932.

34
Twentieth century
  • An economic war broke between Ireland and the
    UK between 1932-38 following dispute over
    continuous land payments.
  • In 1937, De Valera introduced a new constitution
    which declared Ireland to be sovereign,
    independent and a democratic state.
  • Ireland remained neutral during WWII.
  • In 1948 the Republic of Ireland Act was passed,
    severing the last constitutional links with
    Britain.

35
Twentieth century
  • In 1955 Ireland became a member of the United
    Nations
  • 1959 Eamon De Valera became Presiend of Ireland.
  • In 1973, Ireland became a member of the European
    Community, later known as the European Union.

36
President, Parliament and Government
  • The Irish parliamentary democracy is made up of
    three elements
  • The President (an tUarachtan)
  • A House of Representatives ( Dail Eireann).
  • Senate (Seanad).

37
An tUarachtan (President)
  • The first president of Ireland was Dr Douglas
    Hyde (1938-1945).
  • recent presidents
  • Mary Robinson (1990-)
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