Canada to Ireland : Poetry, Politics, and the Shaping of Canadian Nationalism, 1788–1900

Why Canadian literature needed the Irish and the Irish needed Canada. __Canada to Ireland__ explores the poetry and prose of twelve Irish writers and nationalists in Canada between 1788 and 1900. The book demonstrates that Canadian cultural nationalism left its mark on both countries. Contemporary decolonization movements in Canada and cultural exchanges between Ireland and Indigenous peoples make this a timely study. "In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Irish writers played a key role in transatlantic cultural conversations--among Canada, Britain, France, America, and Indigenous nations--that shaped Canadian nationalism. Nationalism in Ireland was likewise influenced by the literary works of Irish migrants and visitors to Canada. Canada to Ireland explores the poetry and prose of twelve Irish writers and nationalists in Canada between 1788 and 1900, including Thomas Moore, Adam Kidd, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, James McCarroll, Nicholas Flood Davin, and Isabella Valancy Crawford. Many of these writers were involved in Irish political causes, including those of the Patriots, the United Irish, Emancipation, Repeal, and Young Ireland, and their work explores the similar ways in which nationalists in Ireland and Indigenous and settler communities in Canada retained their cultural identities and sought autonomy from Britain. Initially writing for an audience in Ireland, they highlighted features of the landscape and culture that they regarded as distinctively Canadian and that were later invoked as powerful unifying symbols by Canadian nationalists. Michele Holmgren shows how these Irish writers and movements are essential to understanding the tenor of early Canadian literary nationalism and political debates concerning Confederation, imperial unity, and western expansion. Canada to Ireland convincingly demonstrates that Canadian cultural nationalism left its mark on both countries. Contemporary decolonization movements in Canada and current cultural exchanges between Ireland and Indigenous peoples make this a timely and relevant study."-- Provided by publisher In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Irish writers played a key role in transatlantic cultural conversations – among Canada, Britain, France, America, and Indigenous nations – that shaped Canadian nationalism. Nationalism in Ireland was likewise influenced by the literary works of Irish migrants and visitors to Canada. Canada to Ireland explores the poetry and prose of twelve Irish writers and nationalists in Canada between 1788 and 1900, including Thomas Moore, Adam Kidd, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, James McCarroll, Nicholas Flood Davin, and Isabella Valancy Crawford. Many of these writers were involved in Irish political causes, including those of the Patriots, the United Irish, Emancipation, Repeal, and Young Ireland, and their work explores the similar ways in which nationalists in Ireland and Indigenous and settler communities in Canada retained their cultural identities and sought autonomy from Britain. Initially writing for an audience in Ireland, they highlighted features of the landscape and culture that they regarded as distinctively Canadian and that were later invoked as powerful unifying symbols by Canadian nationalists. Michele Holmgren shows how these Irish writers and movements are essential to understanding the tenor of early Canadian literary nationalism and political debates concerning Confederation, imperial unity, and western expansion. Canada to Ireland convincingly demonstrates that Canadian cultural nationalism left its mark on both countries. Contemporary decolonization movements in Canada and current cultural exchanges between Ireland and Indigenous peoples make this a timely and relevant study.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Irish writers playeda key role in transatlantic cultural conversations - among Canada,Britain, France, America, and Indigenous nations - that shapedCanadian nationalism. Nationalism in Ireland was likewiseinfluenced by the literary works of Irish migrants and visitors toCanada. Canada to Ireland explores the poetry and prose oftwelve Irish writers and nationalists in Canada between 1788 and1900, including Thomas Moore, Adam Kidd, Lord Edward Fitzgerald,Thomas D'Arcy McGee, James McCarroll, Nicholas Flood Davin, andIsabella Valancy Crawford. Many of these writers were involved inIrish political causes, including those of the Patriots, the UnitedIrish, Emancipation, Repeal, and Young Ireland, and their workexplores the similar ways in which nationalists in Ireland andIndigenous and settler communities in Canada retained theircultural identities and sought autonomy from Britain. Initiallywriting for an audience in Ireland, they highlighted features ofthe landscape and culture that they regarded as distinctivelyCanadian and that were later invoked as powerful unifying symbolsby Canadian nationalists. Michele Holmgren shows how these Irishwriters and movements are essential to understanding the tenor ofearly Canadian literary nationalism and political debatesconcerning Confederation, imperial unity, and western expansion.Canada to Ireland convincingly demonstrates that Canadiancultural nationalism left its mark on both countries. Contemporarydecolonization movements in Canada and current cultural exchangesbetween Ireland and Indigenous peoples make this a timely andrelevant study.

Cover Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction A Canadian in Belfast Part One Irish Patriots in Canada 1 Isaac Weld (1774–1856) 2 Stephen Dickson (1761–1799) Part Two United Irishmen in Canada 3 Lord Edward Fitzgerald (1763–1798) 4 Thomas Moore (1779–1852) Part Three Irish Emigrant Writers and Emancipation 5 Adam Kidd (1803–1831) 6 Standish O’Grady Bennett (fl. 1776–1846) Part Four Rebellion, Responsible Government, and Satire 7 Charles Dawson Shanly (1811–1875) 8 James McCarroll (1814–1892) Part Five Young Ireland and Young Canada 9 Thomas D’Arcy McGee (1825–1868) 10 John Reade (1837–1919) Part Six Ireland to the Canadian West 11 Nicholas Flood Davin (1840–1901) 12 Isabella Valancy Crawford (c. 1847–1887) Conclusion An Irish Speaker in Canada Notes Bibliography Index