Laia Mart Garca History and

culture of the British Isles

13/03/2017
IRISH HOME RULE: A KEY TO IRISH FUTURE

In the nineteenth century, Ireland official status as a nation member

of Great Britain was established due to the proclamation of The Act of
Union (1800). Thus, from the 1870 the Irish Nationalists campaigned
for Home Rule, a movement emerged as an Irish nationalism mass-
movement to repeal it. Furthermore, it proposed a devolution: Irish
Parliament would handle domestic issues while Westmins
ter important affairs. Even though Home Rule bills were introduced
and defeated, it had certain influence within Irish and British politics
and social affairs.

First and foremost, part of its influence is based on the attempt of

gaining more autonomy. Not only, Home Rule movement implied a
limited self-government, but also revive Irish Nationalism among the
country and promote parliamentary patriotism. However, it started a
period of conflicts between two paramilitary bodies. Whereas The Irish
Volunteer Force was founded to support Home Rule, the Ulster
Volunteer Force (Unionists) main objective was to resist it.

Secondly, if Charles Parnell 1 had never impulsed Irish patriotism, the

Unionist would not have the opportunity to find out if the reality of
Home Rule (BBC,2017). In other words, Unionists -ironically- modified
Parnells vision of Home Rule and shaped Northern Ireland
government by means of the Government of Ireland Act 1920. This
act represented the partition of Ireland into two autonomous regions
and most important, the creation of Northern Ireland and Southern
Ireland (the Irish Free State).

1
2 For further information see GRANT, R.G. et al., History of Britain and Ireland. the
Definitive Visual
Guide. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2013 edition, page 300.
Laia Mart Garca History and
culture of the British Isles
13/03/2017
Finally, it is necessary highlight the significant implications of Parnells
fall in modern Ireland. As W.B. Yeats claimed: The modern literature of
Ireland [] began when Parnell fell from power (Nobel lecture: 1923). Moreover,
Yeatss assertion also explores the idea that Parnells falls supposed a cultural flowering 2
and the revival of the Irish language. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that Irish
demands for independence would have happed without Home Rule and due to the
weakness of Great Britain after the Irish War of Independence (1926-21) and Great War
(1914-18).

In conclusion, Isaac Butts campaign it meant a real threat for the

wholeness of Great Britain. In one hand, it started a legacy of Irish
patriotism and sow the seeds of the creation of Northern Ireland. In
the other hand, all the Home Rule bills were not accepted in
Westminster, the commencement of politics and social convulsions.
On balance, Home Rule is a history of failure, of high ideals and
ambitions together with crushing humiliation and disappointment
(Jackson, 2003: 2).

2
For instance, the creation of the Gaelic Athletic Association or the Gaelic League.
Laia Mart Garca History and
culture of the British Isles
13/03/2017

BIBLIOGRAPHY

- BOOKS:

Grant, R. and others. History of Britain & Ireland: the Definitive Visual Guide.
London: DK, first pub. New York, 2011; New York, 2014 edition.

Jackson, A. Home Rule: An Irish History 1800-200. Great Britain: Weidenfeld and
Nicolson, 2003.

- ARTICLES:

BBC History. British History: Irish Home Rule: An imagined future. Accessible in:
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/home_rule_movement_01.shtml#top>
Visited on: 02-03-17

Mulhall, Daniel. Parallel Parnell: Parnell delivers Home Rule on 1904. History
Ireland, 18.3, 2010: 30.

RTE. Century Ireland. Q & A: What was Home Rule?. Accessible in:
<http://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/home-rule-for-ireland-q-a>
Visited on: 01-03-17
Laia Mart Garca History and
culture of the British Isles
13/03/2017