The United Irishmen : popular politics in Ulster and Dublin, 1791-1798

The United Irish movement launched a tradition of revolutionary republicanism in Ireland which continues to the present day. This book examines the origins, context, nature, and practice of early Irish republicanism. It is primarily concerned with the hitherto largely neglected internal dynamics of the movement from its inception in 1791 to its defeat in the great rebellion of 1798. Nancy J. Curtin explores its ideology, propaganda, social composition, and mobilization, and shows how these threads were woven together by an emerging liberalism not usually associated with the republican tradition and which only fitfully survived the demise of the radical movement. Curtin shows how class and religious tensions contributed to the United Irish failure, but at the same time she highlights its successes. Curtin places her sharp analysis of United Irish mobilization, both ideologically and organizationally, within the fluid context of revolution and counter-revolution in late eighteenth-century Ireland. The United Irish Movement of the 1790s launched a tradition of revolutionary republicanism in Ireland which continues to the present day. This book examines the origins, context, nature, and practice of early Irish republicanism. It is primarily concerned with the hitherto largely neglected internal dynamics of the movement from its inception in 1791 to its defeat in the great rebellion of 1798. Nancy J. Curtin explores its ideology, propaganda, social composition, and mobilization, and shows how these threads were woven together by an emerging liberalism not usually associated with the republican tradition and which only fitfully survived the demise of the radical movement. Professor Curtin shows how class and religious tensions contributed to the United Irish failure, but at the same time highlights its successes. She places her sharp analysis of United Irish mobilization, both ideologically and organizationally, within the fluid context of revolution and counter-revolution in late eighteenth-century Ireland. Frontmatter List of Tables (page viii) Abbreviations (page ix) Introduction (page 1) 1. Ideology and Aims (page 13) 2. From Reform to Revolution (page 38) 3. Mobilization and Counter-Revolution (page 67) 4. Organization (page 90) 5. Recruitment and Social Composition (page 117) 6. Defenders and Militiamen (page 145) 7. Literary Mischief (page 174) 8. The Republican Press (page 202) 9. Propaganda by Deed (page 228) 10. Rebellion (page 254) Conclusion (page 282) Appendix: United Irish Social Composition (page 290) Bibliography (page 293) Index (page 311) The United Irish Movement of the 1790s began a tradition of revolutionary republicanism in Ireland which continues to this day. This book examines the origin, context, nature and practices of the republican movement from 1791 to 1798 Nancy J. Curtin. Reprint. Originally Published: Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1994. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [293]-309) And Index.