After the signing of the Entente Cordiale in 1904 between the French and the British, Irish separatists quickly turned towards the Germans as potential allies. Kaiser Wilhelm II was in fact closely following the Irish crisis. He was personally kept informed by Dr Theodor Schiemann, a historian, who was secretly corresponding with George Freeman. Freeman was a … Read more
They say that it’s never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine. What, then, are we to make of the apparent sweet reasonableness of the deal (the ‘Edinburgh agreement’) recently hammered out between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to facilitate a referendum … Read more
From the early 1870s to the end of the First World War, Home Rule was both the single most dominant issue of Irish political life and a major influence within British politics. The return to power of the Liberals in 1906 gave the Home Rule party its chance. The Liberals had supported Home Rule since … Read more
Carson’s role as the leader of Ulster unionism during the Home Rule crisis only served to accelerate an already rapid rise in British politics. The unity of Ulster unionism and the British Conservative Party before the Great War, as well as Carson’s control of the Ulster Volunteer Force—which ultimately converted into the 36th (Ulster) Division … Read more
Devlin’s use of the AOH to enforce party discipline reached its zenith at the ‘baton’ convention of 9 February 1909, called to consider, or to enforce the acceptance of, Birrell’s land bill. The main victim was William O’Brien, ironically the founder of the UIL, opponent of the land bill and supporter of a more conciliatory … Read more