Paul Bew

Ideology and the Irish question : Ulster unionism and Irish nationalism, 1912-1916

Going right to the heart of the Irish Question, Paul Bew offers a new interpretation of Irish politics in the critical 1912-1916 period. He re-examines the issues at stake in the home rule crisis of 1912-14, arguing that the then leader of constitutional nationalism, John Redmond, possessed a plausible political strategy. Redmonds reputation has suffered from the critiques of those who argue either that he failed to conciliate Unionists, or that he lacked the requisite fighting spirit of militant nationalism. This book contains much that is a sympathetic reconstruction of Redmonds vision but it also acknowledges the seriousness of the Ulster Unionist case. Bew analyses the debate concerning land, economy, religion, language, and national identity in the period, and ends with a discussion of the Easter Rising of 1916 which destroyed Redmonds party. He draws out the political, cultural, and economic implications of this development and examines their continuing effect on Irish history.

Sinn Fein, Agrarian Radicalism and the War of Independence, 1919–1921

In the Irish general election of December 1918 some 73 Sinn Fein candidates were elected as against 26 Unionists and 6 members of the old parliamentary party: revolutionary nationalism appeared to have annihilated the more cautious exponents of constitutionalism. In January 1919, following the classical principles as enunciated by Arthur Griffith, the Sinn Fein members refused to go to Westminster. Instead, they met in Dublin and proclaimed themselves Dail Eireann — the parliament of the Irish Republic — reaffirmed the Easter Rising declaration of 1916, adopted a provisional constitution and appointed delegates to attend the peace conference of the Allied powers in Paris.