The conventions.27 agendas Irish Race Conventions

1 conventions agendas

1.1 chicago 1881
1.2 dublin 1896
1.3 new york city 1916
1.4 new york city 1918
1.5 philadelphia 1919
1.6 buenos aires 1921
1.7 paris 1922
1.8 new york city 1947
1.9 new york city 1994

the conventions agendas
chicago 1881

in 1880 charles stewart parnell had visited chicago , american branch of irish national land league established there. first convention held on 30 november - 2 december 1881, following clan na gael convention in august. covered recent emerging links between more violent groups, such fenians, land league , growing irish home rule movement led parnell.

dublin 1896

by 1896 2 home rule bills had been defeated in london parliament, , home rule movement had split on support parnell. conservative , liberal unionist coalition in power, both being firmly opposed home rule. main purpose of convention try re-unite redmond , dillon factions had divided irish parliamentary party in 1890.

archbishop walsh of toronto had said: let great national convention held in dublin, composed of chosen representatives of clergy , people of ireland , of advisory representation of irish race abroad. john dillon on behalf of inf replied: party approves of suggestion made archbishop of toronto in favour of national convention representative of irish race throughout world.

pope leo xiii sent blessing in latin: sanctissimus, bonum spirituale et temporale hibernorum exoptans, finem dissensionum precatur convention thanked him profusely: irish race convention begs express profound gratitude holy father (i.e., pope) kind , salutary message, delegates receive signal favour, , happiest augury of peace.

a number of practical resolutions followed, on progress of land ownership reform. irish parliamentary party did reunite in 1900, chaired redmond, , achieved enactment of home rule act 1914, suspended duration of first world war.

new york city 1916

the 1916 convention, comprising 2,300 delegates @ hotel astor, held 6 weeks before easter rising, , considered division between home rule parties , more militant nationalists. rising supported clan na gael, other members remained hopeful 1914 home rule act, had been passed suspended during world war i, might work.

a majority @ convention supported american policy of neutrality during war, , opposed alliance britain. woodrow wilson won united states presidential election, 1916 irish-americans , campaign slogan: kept out of war .

an important result formation of friends of irish freedom worked co-ordinating body support: .. independence of ireland, industrial development of ireland, use , sale of irish products, , revive irish culture.

new york city 1918

held on 18–19 may, , organised friends irish freedom, convention looked forward end of world war, in america ally of britain. convention therefore had difficult task of steering between support militant groups such sinn féin, opposed british rule in ireland, , proclaiming loyalty of irish-americans usa. america had enacted conscription in 1917, irish conscription crisis of 1918 had arisen, unifying nationalist parties in ireland.

in america hindu german conspiracy trial had ended, revealing link between clan na gael , defendants. public relations , selecting convention chairman therefore unusually important. caused immediate division between john devoy, proposed moderate father hurton, being mindful of hostile press , , hanna sheehy-skeffington , jim larkin proposed more combative john forrest kelly. convention ended address judge goff president wilson considered mild , conciliatory: take such measures best calculated bring independence of ireland.

philadelphia 1919

this convention held on 22–23 february, 5,000 delegates, , discussed success of sinn féin in 1918 election, declaration in january of irish republic in dublin, , hope america support irish participation @ forthcoming paris peace conference. principle of self-determination @ article 5 in wilson s fourteen points expected apply ireland. mention made of bravery of fighting 69th in war. hero of hour american-born irish republican leader Éamon de valera.

the convention appointed american commission on irish independence go europe report , lobby; members frank p. walsh, edward fitzsimmons dunne, , michael j. ryan. in event, irish participation @ paris excluded, woodrow wilson refused support, , in retaliation irish pressure groups refused vote usual democratic party in united states presidential election, 1920, partially causing harding s victory.

a fund-raising drive friends of irish freedom (foif) sell bonds issued irish republic raised on $5m., disputes arose on management of money. foif led john devoy , judge cohalan (a judge of new york supreme court), , believed sophisticated , conciliatory approach ensure best diplomatic support ireland @ paris conference. de valera , other irish delegates expected foif demand , secure immediate recognition usa of irish republic. division on policy arose, sinn féin tried unsuccessfully reform foif , severed mutual links in october 1920.

in turn, foif president bishop gallagher called de valera foreign potentate , , bishop turner referred him pancho villa of ireland . membership of foif declined on 100,000 less 20,000.

buenos aires 1921

in 1921 laurence ginnell sent organise smaller convention in buenos aires, argentina. effect link expatriate irish there, , demonstrate world-wide scope of nationalist movement.

paris 1922

in january 1922 convention had consider anglo-irish treaty had been ratified , divided nationalist opinion. held in paris emphasise ireland s emerging status independent state rest of europe. proposed irish free state created in december 1922. body organising convention named fine ghaedheal (irish for family of gael ) made permanent , funded formative irish government.

the irish delegation supposed represent irish people , comprised senior members of sinn féin , against treaty. debate on treaty turned on definition of whether or not treaty embodied ireland s full right independence. against treaty said not; in favour said significant step towards full independence.

the chair, rev. dr. o reilly perplexed: ..at first had not been able understand how word full political, had been enlightened speeches of mr. de valera s supporters. father shanley said americans still continue ireland, , send arms before. outcome rare moral victory de valera s anti-treaty followers; seven-man executive committee had 4 of nominees, while pro-treaty side had 1 of candidates elected, eoin macneill.

macneill deplored that: .. undertaking obtained mr. de valera party politics should not introduced congress, , funds , machinery not applied party purposes has been violated in 1 important particular, , undertaking in mr. de valera , nominees went paris part of official irish delegation violated them.

in march 1922, de valera proposed second dáil provide £5000 loan fine ghaedheal. dáil special committee considered matter , reported in june, recommending loan. dáil voted accept report without loan.

new york city 1947

by stage irish free state republic, , had remained neutral in world war 2. main issue in 1947 end partition of ireland.

america supporting britain through marshall aid plan, , solution make aid conditional upon end of partition. congressman john e. fogarty main mover, in event condition defeated in congress 206 votes 139, 83 abstaining. factor swung votes against motion ireland had remained neutral during world war.

new york city 1994

this convention organised june @ jacob javits convention center dennis prebenson, gerry adams of sinn féin guest speaker. troubles had developed since 1970 in northern ireland had not achieved irish reunification. while trenchant , hoping further irish-american support, convention helped prepare ground august 1994 ceasefire, essential step in northern ireland peace process led on 1998 belfast agreement.