The Rise of Limerick Nationalism

Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:16 Page 44 44 Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:16 Page 45 3 The Rise of Limerick Nationalism Main Street, Doon, County Limerick (Limerick Museum). 45 Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:17 Page 46 Three strands of Irish Nationalism In 1916, parliamentary, physical force and cultural nationalism were all part of the Irish political landscape.77 The parliamentary tradition, which sought full or partial independence by peaceful means, appeared to be the strongest. By 1914 the Irish Party led by John Redmond seemed to have finally achieved the goal of Home Rule for Ireland and had massive popular support. All of Limerick’s parliamentary seats and local authorities were under its control.78 Limerick, like the rest of Ireland, was in two minds about where it stood on the national question. On the surface at least, people seemed content with being part of the United Kingdom.79 Democrati- cally elected county councils had been set up in 1898. The Wyndham Land Act (1903) had transferred most of the land 46 Limerick as a Fenian stronghold: John Daly, Tom Clarke and a temporarily bearded Sean MacDiarmada (Limerick Museum). Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:17 Page 47 from landlords to tenants. 1916 that physical force psychologically as well as Education was under church nationalism, which aimed to legally, like Scotland, an control. Home Rule was prom- gain full independence by force integral part of the ised once the war was over. of arms, seemed almost dead. United Kingdom.82 In 1966, Garret Fitzgerald At the same time, a strong noted that the 1916 Rising had Since 1858, its torchbearers undercurrent of extremism been: had been the Fenians, officially and anti-English sentiment known as the Irish Republican was widespread, partially due planned by men who feared Brotherhood (IRB). Republi- to the legacy of the Land War.80 that without a dramatic canism was marked by a series Limerick Volunteer Liam Forde gesture of this kind, the of rebellions: the United Irish- later stated that ‘the tales of sense of national identity men (1798), Robert Emmet the evictions and the suffer- that had survived all the (1803), the Young Irelanders ings endured prior to and hazards of the centuries (1848) and the Fenians (1867). during the earlier years of my would flicker out These gave rise to the myth of life were principally responsi- ignominiously within their the ‘Pheonix Flame’; that ble in arousing my rebel life time, leaving Ireland republicanism was always instincts and in the shaping of my national outlook.’81 It was clear that Irish nation- alists wanted ‘independence’ but were vague about what form it should take. Few were prepared to fight for it, and were content with Home Rule, a limited form of self-government. The Fenian Flame Home Rule was so strong in The funeral of O’Donovan Rossa, Glasnevin Cemetery, 1 August 1915 (National Library of Ireland). 47 Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:17 Page 48 48 Photograph taken by Roe McMahon after the Union Pipers Competition in the Rotunda, Dublin, 2 July 1912; the only woman is Mrs J J Murphy of Limerick (Limerick Museum). Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:17 Page 49 dying and being reborn, as the war ended: ‘England’s diffi- cultural nationalist, who every Irish generation struck a culty is Ireland’s opportu- produced the first modern blow for freedom. nity.’83 English-Irish dictionary (1904).85 After a long period of decline, The Joyce brothers from Bally- the IRB was reformed from An Irish Ireland organ, in East Limerick were 1907 by young recruits such as important contributors to the Bulmer Hobson and Sean Cultural nationalism was movement. Patrick Weston MacDiarmada, who had the inspired by Ireland’s unique Joyce (1827-1914) was a support of Fenian veteran Tom heritage - its language, litera- pioneer in Irish place names, Clarke. Having expelled many ture and sports. From the traditional music, history and elderly, apathetic members, 1880s onwards new move- many other fields. His brother they shaped the IRB into a ments emerged that aimed to Robert Dwyer Joyce (1830-83) tightly organised and highly revive and promote Irish wrote many poems and songs, disciplined force. In 1915, it culture. The Gaelic Athletic including ‘The Boys of emerged into the open when Association (GAA), Gaelic Wexford’ and ‘The Wind that Padraig Pearse delivered his League and the Irish Literary Shakes the Barley’ (which gave famous oration at the funeral Revival all helped to shape a its name to the 2006 film 86 of IRB leader Jeremiah sense of Irish identity.84 directed by Ken Loach). O’Donovan Rossa in Glasnevin Cemetery. His ringing conclu- By 1916, the majority of Limer- ZZZZZZZ sion, ‘the fools, the fools, the ick people had re-imagined fools!- they have left us our Ireland as a nation with its Fenian dead, and while Ireland own history and rich culture in The GAA holds these graves, Ireland a way that they had not before Founded in 1884, the Gaelic unfree shall never be at peace’ the 1880s and 1890s. This was Athletic Association (GAA) was a call to arms aimed at the largely due to the flourishing aimed to preserve and revive current generation of young state of the GAA and Gaelic traditional Irish sports includ- Irish people. By 1916 the IRB League in both city and county. ing hurling, football, handball was well organised, had infil- and athletics.87 Among the first trated the GAA, Gaelic League Timothy O’Neill Lane (1852- clubs to be established in and Irish Volunteers and was 1915) from Templeglantine, Limerick were South Liberties, committed to a rebellion before County Limerick, was a major St Patrick’s and Commercials in 49 Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:17 Page 50 the city and Murroe, Castle- efforts to oppose them.89 As a total participants) took part in connell, Ballylanders and result, Limerick GAA went into the Easter Rising. However, Boher in the county. In 1887- a steep decline and rugby took many GAA members also 88, Limerick, represented by hold in Limerick city.90 After joined the British armed Commercials Club, won the 1900, the GAA underwent a forces. In 1916, ‘there were- first All-Ireland Football great revival. The City Board many more GAA men fighting final.88 was established in 1902 and in British army uniforms in the number of clubs increased France, than there were in the For the first twenty years of its steadily.91 GPO.’ Later it continued ‘to existence, the GAA was divided engage with the British by bitter disputes, mostly The GAA provided many authorities to safeguard the caused by the IRB’s efforts to recruits to the Irish Volun- organisation’s sporting opera- use the GAA for recruits and teers. In total, 302 of its tions’ going so far as to meet the Catholic Church’s strong members (20 per cent of the with General Maxwell after he had presided over the execu- tions of the 1916 leaders.’ After the Rising, the GAA even issued a statement denying any involvement in the fighting.92 On 18 April 1916, only a week before the outbreak of the Easter Rising, the death occu- red in Dublin of Frank Dineen (1863-1916), the only person to be both president (1895-98) and secretary (1898-1901) of the GAA. A native of Ballylan- ders, County Limerick, he had also been responsible for the GAA’s acquisition of Croke Park in 1913.93 50 Cultural nationalism in action: pipers and hurlers from Mungret College on a 1910 hurling tour to Belgium marching to the site of the Battle of Fontenoy (Jesuit Archives Dublin). Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:17 Page 51 £ £ £ £ £ The Irish language declined Limerick, although Eamon de sharply in the nineteenth Valera’s grandmother was a century, mainly because native Irish speaker, she never English was the language of spoke Irish with him, and he The Gaelic League government, economic life and had to learn it as an adult in in the eyes of many, of the Gaelic League. Founded in in Limerick progress. In Bruree County 1893 by a group of scholars, List of official collectors of Gaelic League subscriptions in Limerick, organised by parish and ward, 1916 (Limerick Museum). 51 Project5 b sample a OMG.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2016 18:17 Page 52 the League was a desperate In 1902 the Limerick City Cultural nationalism had deep- attempt to preserve and revive branch of the Gaelic League ened and widened a sense of the Irish language. By 1916 it came up with the idea of Irish separateness. The grow- had become part of the cult- making St Patrick’s Day a ing importance of the Catholic ural and social life of Ireland.94 national holiday. As a result of Church with its heritage of a national campaign, led by persecution during the Penal Inspired by the centenary of two Limerick men, James era also helped create an image the 1798 rebellion, the first O’Mara MP, whose family of Britain as being anti- branch in Limerick city was owned one of Limerick’s four Catholic, anti-Irish and alien. established in 1898. Branches bacon factories and the fourth sprang up all over the city and Earl of Dunraven, St Patrick’s county, as a new generation of Day became the official men and women took part in national holiday in 1903.95 the celebration of Irish culture.

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