Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence, 1912-1925

Between 1912 and 1925, Ireland convulsed with political and revolutionary upheaval in pursuit of self-government. Canadians of Irish descent, both Catholic and Protestant, diligently followed these conflicts, and many became actively involved in the dramatic events overseas. Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence tells the unique story of how Irish Canadians identified with their ancestral homeland during this revolutionary era. Drawing on ethnic weekly newspapers and fraternal society records, Robert McLaughlin finds new interpretations of how Orange Canadian unionists and Irish Canadian nationalists viewed their heritage, their membership in the British Empire, and even Canadian citizenship itself. McLaughlin also provides strong evidence that neither time nor distance diminished Irish Canadians' attachment to their familial homeland or their identification with their respective ethnic communities in Ireland. Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence reconsiders existing contextual frameworks and confronts the challenging questions inherent in understanding this period. robert mclaughlin teaches World History at the University of Hartford. Although researching and writing historical subjects is largely a solitary endeavor, no project such as this can be accomplished without generous assistance from others. I am eternally indebted, both personally and academically, to numerous people and institutions. I owe a debt of gratitude to the Canadian-American Center at the University of Maine for the numerous fellowships I received. Ray Pellitier and Stephen Hornsby were particularly supportive of my ideas and allowed me the opportunity to implement those ideas. Thank you to Richard Judd, Janet Tebrake, Beth McKillen, and Howard Cody for reading through such a tedious work on such short notice. The staff at Fogler Library at the University of Maine is wonderful and is deserving of great thanks to say the least, particularly Bonnie. Thank you to the staffs at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, the National Archives of Canada, and the Archives of Ontario. A special thanks is extended to the staff at the National Library of Ireland, and especially Noel Brady. On a more personal level, thank you to my good friend John Potter, who not only gave me free rein of his house in Montreal, he also loaned me his car for research jaunts to Ottawa. Thank you to Will Katerberg, and Tammy Windsor, who each allowed me to stay with them on separate research forays to Fredericton. Thank you to Micheline Sheehy Skeffington for translating all of the Gaelic passages I uncovered. Thank you to Ellen King, Betsy Hedler, Micah Pawling, and most especially Brian Payne. Your excellent work made me strive harder to excel. Thank you to Betsy Beattie, whose enthusiasm and kind comments spurred this project at its earliest, and toughest stages. I wish, most especially, to thank my advisor Scott See. I could not have accomplished this project without him. viii Acknowledgments I would also like to thank my editor at the University of Toronto Press, Len Husband. Len's enthusiasm for this project was infectious and has been much appreciated. I consider myself to have been extremely fortunate to have an editor like Len working on my behalf. Lastly, mere words cannot convey the debt of gratitude I owe to my family. My father accompanied me on two glorious research trips to Toronto. His support, both personal and financial, allowed this project to develop, which I will never forget. My wife Lia, and my daughters Kiera and Ellie have been my greatest supporters. They have witnessed the peaks and the valleys, the joys and the misery. Without their love and encouragement this project may never have been completed. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Between 1912 and 1925, Ireland convulsed with political and revolutionary upheaval in pursuit of self-government. Canadians of Irish descent, both Catholic and Protestant, diligently followed these conflicts, and many became actively involved in the dramatic events overseas.

Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence tells the unique story of how Irish Canadians identified with their ancestral homeland during this revolutionary era. Drawing on ethnic weekly newspapers and fraternal society records, Robert McLaughlin finds new interpretations of how Orange Canadian unionists and Irish Canadian nationalists viewed their heritage, their membership in the British Empire, and even Canadian citizenship itself.

McLaughlin also provides strong evidence that neither time nor distance diminished Irish Canadians' attachment to their familial homeland or their identification with their respective ethnic communities in Ireland. Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence reconsiders existing contextual frameworks and confronts the challenging questions inherent in understanding this period.

Contents 5 Acknowledgments 7 Introduction 9 Chapter One. Orange-Canadian Unionists and the Irish Home Rule Crisis, 1912–1914 33 Chapter Two. Irish-Canadian Nationalists: Home Rulers Once Again, 1912–1914 60 Chapter Three. The War Years: Unity and Disintegration, 1914–1918 88 Chapter Four. From Home Rulers to Sinn Féiners: The Rise of the Self-Determination for Ireland League of Canada, 1919–1921 117 Chapter Five. ‘No Surrender’: Orange-Canadian Unionists and Northern Ireland, 1919–1925 159 Chapter Six. Irish-Canadian Nationalists: Free Staters and Republicans, 1922–1925 184 Conclusion 202 Notes 207 Bibliography 261 Index 273 "McLaughlin's research is highly original, demonstrating the extensive role played by Canadians in this fascinating episode of Ireland's history"--P. [4] of cover.