How far do these sources support the view that Irish nationalism remained a 'curious blend of conservative Catholicism and political radicalism' between 1820 and 1921?

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Ireland Coursework

How far do these sources support the view that Irish nationalism remained a ‘curious blend of conservative Catholicism and political radicalism’ between 1820 and 1921?

The leaders of the Catholic Board best illustrate the definition of “conservative Catholicism” as they desired Emancipation but were cautious and conciliatory in their approach, they hoped for reform to be achieved peacefully, which was a stark contrast to political radicals such as Wolfe Tone who wanted a Republic Ireland and was prepared to use violence in order to attain his aims. K.T. Hoppen quoted Garvin’s view that Daniel O’Connell’s nationalism was a “blend” because O’Connell wanted reform (which he achieved in 1829 through his Catholic Association) and repeal peacefully, but he threatened civil disobedience in Ireland to achieve this. The “blend” is therefore “curious” in that O’Connell successfully fuses two conflicting political traditions into one, but it is debateable on whether or not the “blend” remained together between 1820 and 1921.

        Source 1 supports Garvin’s view of a “blend” as Mitchel describes O’Connell as being too conservative to defy “all British law” yet acknowledges that O’Connell entwined democracy with militancy and used, albeit it not very well (“phantom”), radical tactics such as brinkmanship. The amalgamation of both nationalist traditions is also displayed in source 4 as it implies that Charles Stewart Parnell embodies the “blend” as he is both leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, which used parliamentary methods to achieve it’s aims, and President of the Land League, which was more radical. In his speech, which was during the agricultural depression, Parnell advocates radicalism as he hints at civil disobedience when he says: “we shall… strike against rent until this question has been settled”, thus strong parallels can be drawn with O’Connell and his speeches at the monster meetings. The “Christian and charitable” Parnell is appealing to the power of conservative Catholicism which was observed in source 1. Arthur Griffith (source 7), like Parnell, personifies Irish nationalism as he has shifted from one position to another; in this case he has shifted from a radical position (founder of Sinn Fein) to a more conciliatory position as he accepts the Anglo-Irish Treaty which falls short of giving Ireland complete independence. Griffith is one of the clearest examples of the “blend” as he compromises with the British over the treaty, something which Eamon De Valera, another radical, is strongly opposed to. The idea of a “blend” is continued to an extent in source 6 where George Bernard Shaw uses a analogy of a man to depict nationalism as though it were one movement and thus does not distinguish any separate strands. He also concludes nationalism to be curious as he calls it “twaddle” and states that it is anti-progressive and unhealthy, which also makes it very ineffective. Source 5 continues Shaw’s view that nationalism was widespread as the source shows that the IPP, which contained both moderates and radicals, was consistently popular in Ireland and thus indicates that many people supported this blend. Housing both traditions enabled the party to act as a hybrid, in that Parnell combined parliamentary tactics with civil disobedience.    

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        The notion of a “blend” is contradicted in source 1 as Mitchel identifies two separate strands of nationalism and indicates there is no common ground between radicals like himself and “respectable Catholics” like O’Connell. Furthermore he criticises O’Connell and his moderate tactics (‘half-sheathing a visionary sword’) harshly for ruining “his country”; Mitchel believed that radical tactics were necessary in order to gain independence. The validity of this source can be questioned due to the fact that it was written twenty years after O’Connell had died and, in addition, the source was written in America where the author may have been ...

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