Popular Politics Articles

Éire and World War II (1939-1945).

During the 1930’s Europe was inching steadily towards war. The fascist states of Germany and Italy were in the process of expanding their empires. Stalinist Russia was in lock-down. The western democracies were in danger and the path to war seemed unstoppable. In...

The establishment of Éire in 1937

Although Eamon de Valera had fought for an Irish republic during the rising of Easter 1916 and later during the War of Independence 1919-1921 and on the anti-treaty side during the Civil War 1922-1923, he was able to ascend to power within a twenty-six county Free...

The Formation of Fine Gael

Following the civil war, the Irish Free State was governed by the pro-treaty parties the largest of which was, Cumann na nGaedheal, from 1923 to 1933. This was the party of William T. Cosgrave, a veteran of the Easter Rising and Minister of Local Government in Dáil...

Fianna Fáil is founded

In 1923, the irregular troops laid down their arms, giving victory to the Free State forces. Eamon de Valera, as Director of Operations for the anti-treaty side, was apprehended and imprisoned. As the country settled down he was released in 1924 and decided that...

The Irish Civil War (1922-1923)

With the ratification of the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 by Dáil Éireann, albeit by a very small majority, the seeds of the civil war were sown. The Treaty accepted the de facto partition of Ireland into a 26 county...

Éamon de Valera - Irish President

Éamon de Valera is the man who, more than anyone else, determined Ireland’s fate and character for most of the 20th century. He was an enigmatic character, some would say cold and aloof but undoubtedly charismatic, who...

The Partition of Ireland

The British had hoped that the Government of Ireland Act of 1920 would lead to the end of the war on the island of Ireland. As it stood the act was not acceptable to either the Republican or the Unionists of Ireland....

Government of Ireland Act 1920

By the late 1920's Ireland was in a state of disarray from the Irish war of independence. The British forces of the Royal Irish Constabulary along with the Black and Tans and the retaliated against the IRA and Sinn...

Declaration of the United Irishmen

The following article is the partial declaration of the United Irishmen Society formed in 1791 by Theobold Wolfe Tone and others. The aims of the United Irishmen Society were initially in tune with Henry Grattan and Thomas Burke’s wish for gradual change in Ireland,...

The Society of United Irishmen

As the 18th century progressed, many members of the Ascendancy Government, in Ireland, began to resent England’s domination over the Kingdom of Ireland. Throughout the century many Presbyterian's had emigrated to the American colonies seeking a better life and freedom...

The Effects of the Penal Laws Upon Irish Society

As the 18th century progressed, the anti-Catholic penal laws were strengthened and had a profound effect upon all aspects of Irish society. The great Gaelic lords were gone and the clans beat and subdued. The Catholic Old English were totally excluded from all the...

Daniel O’Connell (1775 - 1847)

Daniel O’Connell was born in 1775, into an affluent Catholic, Gaelic family from County Kerry. He was educated in France and was one of the first Catholics called to the Irish Bar in 1798. His experiences of revolutionary France and of the United Irishmen rebellions...

Restoration Act Of Settlement In 1662

In 1660 the Monarchy was restored in the person of Charles ll as monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland. Those Royalists in Ireland who had land confiscated under the Commonwealth government petitioned the King to return their properties back...