3.6 IRISH LAND ISSUE, 1870-82
Introduct Resentment began in the 17th century between those who owned
ion land and those who lived on it when many Irishmen were evicted by
English colonists attempting to gain greater control over Ireland
Led to dominance of an Anglo-Irish landowning class over Irishmen
who depended on the land
Leasing was based on conacre
o Tenant had no legal claim to the land
o Rent paid in cash or labour
o Only lasted 11 months of the year
o Landlord had no legal obligation to tenants
o One-sided agreement – tenants faced excessive rates with no
legal protection, benefitting the landowner
Tenant’s vulnerability heightened in the famine – 1 million+ died of
hunger
Post famine, landholdings became more consolidated and
agriculture diversified but financial and legal terms favoured the
landowner relationships still strained
Attempts to reduce this tension after 1870, but challenging
economic conditions due to poor weather and growing US markets
weakened the position of Irish smallholders who relied on the sale to
pay rents, worsening relations
Promoted a significant period of protest – the Land Wars (1879-82)
Ended after a deal between leaders of protesting farmers and the
British gov
What was the significance of demands for land reform in 1870?
Dublin Context
Land Catholic suffering intensified through evictions
Conferen Land reform adopted by YI in 1848 and IRB after 1858
ce (1870) Land question important for British MPs who wished to pacify
Ireland, particularly after the Fenian Rising (1867) when Gladstone
established an intention to address the issue of land and tenant’s
rights
1870 – out of 500,000 tenant farmers, 80% held leases of no more
than 12 months had no legal rights or claim to land controlled
by landowner
Ulster Custom gave Ulster farmers greater security – fixity of tenure
Aims (TL)
Irish Tenant League (1850-59) – a nationwide attempt for farmers to
unite in an organised manner to secure the ‘three F’s’
o Fair rent
o Fixity of tenure – the conditions under which the land is held
o Freedom of sale for tenant’s subject to the landlord’s approval
Empower tenant farmers and equalise their relationship – e.g. fixed
rents meant landlords couldn’t exploit tenants
Effectiveness (TL)
First co-ordinated attempt by the Irish agricultural community for
enhanced rights
Demonstrated an improved ability to mobilise as a unified body in
pursuit of goals
Collapse of the OG Tenant League didn’t see the end of demand for
, 3.6 IRISH LAND ISSUE, 1870-82
land reform
South and north united, showing a broader demand for change
New TL acquired a strong following by 1870
OG TL short-lived, ending 9 years later when prosperity dampened
determination
Dublin Land Conference (1870)
Farmers openly declared their hopes
Popular demonstration of the will of Ireland’s agricultural community
Attendees came from across Ireland, even Ulster
Extended the Ulster custom (specifically fixity of tenure and free
sale) across Ireland
Formalised tenant rights giving them strong grounds for legal
protection and LT security
Influenced Gladstone’s legislation
Liberals refused to attend as they were primary landowners in
Ireland who were neutral
Land Act Context
(1870) Tenant movement
Fenian Rising 1867
Angl0-Irish tensions
Gladstone aimed to promote a harmonious Anglo-Irish relationship –
“my mission is to pacify Ireland” (1868)
Motives
Bright felt the issue would cause trouble LT if it wasn’t immediately
adopted
Gladstone felt the need to reduce antagonism – 1867 FR recognised
land issue of contention
Terms
Ulster custom recognised in law wherever existed – free sale, fixity,
no eviction if paying rent BUT ignores fair rent
Compensate tenants evicted for reasons other than non-payment
(fixity)
Compensate for improvements (free sale)
Bright Clause – tenants could buy their holdings and borrow 2/3 of
the price from the gov
Rent charged should not be exorbitant (fair rent)
Well received in parliament – 422:11 in HOC and passed in HOL
Significance
Symbolic importance – British gov intervened in Irish land affairs on
behalf of tenants for the first time
Previous legislation benefitted LLs, but tenants were now protected
by compensation – recognition in law improvement from conacre
Introduct Resentment began in the 17th century between those who owned
ion land and those who lived on it when many Irishmen were evicted by
English colonists attempting to gain greater control over Ireland
Led to dominance of an Anglo-Irish landowning class over Irishmen
who depended on the land
Leasing was based on conacre
o Tenant had no legal claim to the land
o Rent paid in cash or labour
o Only lasted 11 months of the year
o Landlord had no legal obligation to tenants
o One-sided agreement – tenants faced excessive rates with no
legal protection, benefitting the landowner
Tenant’s vulnerability heightened in the famine – 1 million+ died of
hunger
Post famine, landholdings became more consolidated and
agriculture diversified but financial and legal terms favoured the
landowner relationships still strained
Attempts to reduce this tension after 1870, but challenging
economic conditions due to poor weather and growing US markets
weakened the position of Irish smallholders who relied on the sale to
pay rents, worsening relations
Promoted a significant period of protest – the Land Wars (1879-82)
Ended after a deal between leaders of protesting farmers and the
British gov
What was the significance of demands for land reform in 1870?
Dublin Context
Land Catholic suffering intensified through evictions
Conferen Land reform adopted by YI in 1848 and IRB after 1858
ce (1870) Land question important for British MPs who wished to pacify
Ireland, particularly after the Fenian Rising (1867) when Gladstone
established an intention to address the issue of land and tenant’s
rights
1870 – out of 500,000 tenant farmers, 80% held leases of no more
than 12 months had no legal rights or claim to land controlled
by landowner
Ulster Custom gave Ulster farmers greater security – fixity of tenure
Aims (TL)
Irish Tenant League (1850-59) – a nationwide attempt for farmers to
unite in an organised manner to secure the ‘three F’s’
o Fair rent
o Fixity of tenure – the conditions under which the land is held
o Freedom of sale for tenant’s subject to the landlord’s approval
Empower tenant farmers and equalise their relationship – e.g. fixed
rents meant landlords couldn’t exploit tenants
Effectiveness (TL)
First co-ordinated attempt by the Irish agricultural community for
enhanced rights
Demonstrated an improved ability to mobilise as a unified body in
pursuit of goals
Collapse of the OG Tenant League didn’t see the end of demand for
, 3.6 IRISH LAND ISSUE, 1870-82
land reform
South and north united, showing a broader demand for change
New TL acquired a strong following by 1870
OG TL short-lived, ending 9 years later when prosperity dampened
determination
Dublin Land Conference (1870)
Farmers openly declared their hopes
Popular demonstration of the will of Ireland’s agricultural community
Attendees came from across Ireland, even Ulster
Extended the Ulster custom (specifically fixity of tenure and free
sale) across Ireland
Formalised tenant rights giving them strong grounds for legal
protection and LT security
Influenced Gladstone’s legislation
Liberals refused to attend as they were primary landowners in
Ireland who were neutral
Land Act Context
(1870) Tenant movement
Fenian Rising 1867
Angl0-Irish tensions
Gladstone aimed to promote a harmonious Anglo-Irish relationship –
“my mission is to pacify Ireland” (1868)
Motives
Bright felt the issue would cause trouble LT if it wasn’t immediately
adopted
Gladstone felt the need to reduce antagonism – 1867 FR recognised
land issue of contention
Terms
Ulster custom recognised in law wherever existed – free sale, fixity,
no eviction if paying rent BUT ignores fair rent
Compensate tenants evicted for reasons other than non-payment
(fixity)
Compensate for improvements (free sale)
Bright Clause – tenants could buy their holdings and borrow 2/3 of
the price from the gov
Rent charged should not be exorbitant (fair rent)
Well received in parliament – 422:11 in HOC and passed in HOL
Significance
Symbolic importance – British gov intervened in Irish land affairs on
behalf of tenants for the first time
Previous legislation benefitted LLs, but tenants were now protected
by compensation – recognition in law improvement from conacre
