The Role of the Church and Religion in Irish Nationalism and Irish
Unionism between 1800 and 1900.
“The support of the Church was the most important factor in determining
whether unionists and nationalists succeeded in achieving their aims in
nineteenth century Ireland”- How far do you agree with this statement?
Introduction
● The Church was very important in Irish politics, both in nationalism and
unionism.
● For example, in nationalism, O’Connell’s Emancipation Campaign
benefited greatly from the support of the Roman Catholic Church whilst
Emmet’s 1803 rebellion was doomed by Church condemnation.
● A similar pattern is seen with Unionism. Unionists were highly motivated
by a desire to preserve the Protestant Ascendancy, and the Protestant
churches united against nationalist campaigns. However, it should be
noted that these religious motives were significantly more important and
relevant for the Ulster Unionists than for their Southern counterparts.
● However, it can be argued that other factors were significantly more
important than the Church. The Fenians achieved significant success
and popularity despite the Catholic Church openly opposing the group.
It has been suggested that other factors (especially leadership and
mass support) were more relevant in determining the success or failure
of Irish political campaigns.
Irish Nationalism (1800-1850)
Emmet’s 1803 Rebellion
Agree: The Support of the Church was Necessary
, ● Emmet’s 1803 rebellion in Dublin was easily crushed by the British
government. It may be argued that this was a result of condemnation by
the Roman Catholic Church, which had a strong stance against violence
and revolutionary nationalism.
● 23rd July 1803: Archbishop Troy of Dublin condemns Emmet’s plans on
the morning that the rebellion was planned to occur.
○ He described the rebellion as a “French disease” (Troy) because
of how Emmet was enamoured by the ideals of revolutionary
France.
● This contributed to the extreme failure- resulting in 50 immediate deaths
in addition to 22 executions following the rebellion.
● Emmet can only be considered successful in that he martyred himself-
the speech that he made at the docks prior to his execution would be
quoted by generations of nationalists (particularly Young Ireland).
Daniel O’Connell and Catholic Emancipation
Agree: The Support of the Church was Necessary
● The support of the Catholic Church was fundamental in achieving the
1829 Roman Catholic Emancipation Act.
● The Church was fundamentally tied to the Catholic Association
established in 1823, which was vital in extending O’Connell’s support
base amongst the peasantry classes. The Association represented 7
million Irish Catholics, showing that nationalism and Catholicism were
closely intertwined.
○ Catholic clergymen were essential to the collection of the Penny
Rent (one penny/month membership of the Catholic Association).
○ They collected £20,000 within nine months
○ This contributed greatly to O’Connell’s eventual success as the
money raised funded the Emancipation Campaign.
, ● The clergy openly supported the Emancipation Campaign during
services, mobilising the forty-shilling freeholders.
○ 1826: Four pro-Emancipation candidates were returned.
● Bishop Doyle published pamphlets in support of Catholic Emancipation,
providing religious legitimacy and support for O’Connell’s campaign.
● The support of the Roman Catholic Church meant that O’Connell’s
campaign became “the crusade of an irresistible mass movement”
(Rees)- religion was fundamental in this movement.
● Encouragement from the Catholic Church gave peasants the courage to
defy their landlords in voting for O’Connell in the 1828 Co. Clare
election.
○ O’Connell won by a vote of 2057 to 982
○ This forced the hand of the British Government, delivering a
“bloodless revolution” (O’Connell)
● Religion united different Catholic social classes, allowing a mass public
support base for O’Connell’s campaign.
○ The 1829 Act “politicised religion” (Rees)
Disagree: The Church Did Not Secure The Outcome Directly
● However, it may be argued that the influence of the Catholic Church
was detrimental, rather than beneficial. In politicising religion, O’Connell
antagonised many Protestant Unionists, leading to a surge in both
Unionism and sectarianism in the first half of the nineteenth century.
This polarisation was even worse during O’Connell’s Repeal Campaign.
● The 1829 Roman Catholic Emancipation Act was also far from a
complete success.
○ The Act raised the freehold qualification from 40 shillings to
£10/household, reducing the Irish electorate to a sixth of its
original size.
Unionism between 1800 and 1900.
“The support of the Church was the most important factor in determining
whether unionists and nationalists succeeded in achieving their aims in
nineteenth century Ireland”- How far do you agree with this statement?
Introduction
● The Church was very important in Irish politics, both in nationalism and
unionism.
● For example, in nationalism, O’Connell’s Emancipation Campaign
benefited greatly from the support of the Roman Catholic Church whilst
Emmet’s 1803 rebellion was doomed by Church condemnation.
● A similar pattern is seen with Unionism. Unionists were highly motivated
by a desire to preserve the Protestant Ascendancy, and the Protestant
churches united against nationalist campaigns. However, it should be
noted that these religious motives were significantly more important and
relevant for the Ulster Unionists than for their Southern counterparts.
● However, it can be argued that other factors were significantly more
important than the Church. The Fenians achieved significant success
and popularity despite the Catholic Church openly opposing the group.
It has been suggested that other factors (especially leadership and
mass support) were more relevant in determining the success or failure
of Irish political campaigns.
Irish Nationalism (1800-1850)
Emmet’s 1803 Rebellion
Agree: The Support of the Church was Necessary
, ● Emmet’s 1803 rebellion in Dublin was easily crushed by the British
government. It may be argued that this was a result of condemnation by
the Roman Catholic Church, which had a strong stance against violence
and revolutionary nationalism.
● 23rd July 1803: Archbishop Troy of Dublin condemns Emmet’s plans on
the morning that the rebellion was planned to occur.
○ He described the rebellion as a “French disease” (Troy) because
of how Emmet was enamoured by the ideals of revolutionary
France.
● This contributed to the extreme failure- resulting in 50 immediate deaths
in addition to 22 executions following the rebellion.
● Emmet can only be considered successful in that he martyred himself-
the speech that he made at the docks prior to his execution would be
quoted by generations of nationalists (particularly Young Ireland).
Daniel O’Connell and Catholic Emancipation
Agree: The Support of the Church was Necessary
● The support of the Catholic Church was fundamental in achieving the
1829 Roman Catholic Emancipation Act.
● The Church was fundamentally tied to the Catholic Association
established in 1823, which was vital in extending O’Connell’s support
base amongst the peasantry classes. The Association represented 7
million Irish Catholics, showing that nationalism and Catholicism were
closely intertwined.
○ Catholic clergymen were essential to the collection of the Penny
Rent (one penny/month membership of the Catholic Association).
○ They collected £20,000 within nine months
○ This contributed greatly to O’Connell’s eventual success as the
money raised funded the Emancipation Campaign.
, ● The clergy openly supported the Emancipation Campaign during
services, mobilising the forty-shilling freeholders.
○ 1826: Four pro-Emancipation candidates were returned.
● Bishop Doyle published pamphlets in support of Catholic Emancipation,
providing religious legitimacy and support for O’Connell’s campaign.
● The support of the Roman Catholic Church meant that O’Connell’s
campaign became “the crusade of an irresistible mass movement”
(Rees)- religion was fundamental in this movement.
● Encouragement from the Catholic Church gave peasants the courage to
defy their landlords in voting for O’Connell in the 1828 Co. Clare
election.
○ O’Connell won by a vote of 2057 to 982
○ This forced the hand of the British Government, delivering a
“bloodless revolution” (O’Connell)
● Religion united different Catholic social classes, allowing a mass public
support base for O’Connell’s campaign.
○ The 1829 Act “politicised religion” (Rees)
Disagree: The Church Did Not Secure The Outcome Directly
● However, it may be argued that the influence of the Catholic Church
was detrimental, rather than beneficial. In politicising religion, O’Connell
antagonised many Protestant Unionists, leading to a surge in both
Unionism and sectarianism in the first half of the nineteenth century.
This polarisation was even worse during O’Connell’s Repeal Campaign.
● The 1829 Roman Catholic Emancipation Act was also far from a
complete success.
○ The Act raised the freehold qualification from 40 shillings to
£10/household, reducing the Irish electorate to a sixth of its
original size.
