1917 - Important Context

The Rise of the Second Sinn Féin (1916-1918)

• The Second Sinn Féin emerged as a significant force in Irish politics between 1916 and 1918, following the Easter Rising and the subsequent disillusionment with the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP).

• The original Sinn Féin, founded by Arthur Griffith in 1905, was a relatively minor political party advocating for dual monarchy (a form of limited independence under a shared monarch) rather than full independence.

• However, after the Easter Rising, the party underwent a transformation as it attracted the support of those who were disillusioned with the IPP's failure to achieve Home Rule.

• The British government's harsh response to the Rising, including the executions of its leaders, alienated many Irish people and led to a surge in nationalist sentiment.

• This shift in public opinion created a fertile ground for the rise of a more radical Sinn Féin, which began to advocate for complete independence from Britain rather than limited self-government.

• The reformed Sinn Féin attracted a new wave of supporters, including veterans of the Rising and younger nationalists who sought a more aggressive approach to achieving independence.

  • Under the leadership of Éamon de Valera, who became the party's president in 1917, Sinn Féin shifted its focus from Griffith's earlier ideas to a more revolutionary stance, calling for establishing an Irish Republic.

• The party's popularity grew rapidly, and it began to challenge the IPP's dominance in Irish politics. By 1918, Sinn Féin had become the leading voice of Irish nationalism, advocating for a complete break from British rule and the creation of an independent Irish state.

"A Sinn Féin Ireland would make the Irish nation a Nation among the Nations of the World." - Arthur Griffith

Arthur Griffith's Role in the Second Sinn Féin Party

• Arthur Griffith was a central figure in the rise of the Second Sinn Féin, both as its founder and as an influential leader during its transformation into a dominant political force.

• Born in Dublin in 1871, Griffith was a journalist and political thinker who initially advocated for a form of dual monarchy, where Ireland would have self-government while retaining the British monarch as head of state.

• He founded Sinn Féin in 1905 to promote these ideas, but the party remained relatively small and politically marginal for the first decade of its existence.

  

• Following the Easter Rising of 1916, Sinn Féin was mistakenly blamed by the British government for the rebellion despite not having organised it.

• This association with the Rising, however, gave the party a newfound credibility among radical nationalists, and Griffith began to shift the party's focus towards full independence.

• Griffith's leadership was instrumental in this transformation, as he provided a coherent ideological framework that combined nationalism with pragmatic political strategies.

• In 1917, Griffith played a key role in merging the remnants of the Irish Volunteers with Sinn Féin, creating a unified nationalist front under the Sinn Féin banner.

• Although Éamon de Valera became the president of the party, Griffith remained a key strategist and ideologue, shaping the party's policies and tactics.

• His vision of an independent Ireland, free from British control, resonated with a population increasingly disillusioned with the moderate approach of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

• Griffith's influence within Sinn Féin ensured that the party pursued a dual strategy of electoral politics and revolutionary activity, laying the groundwork for Sinn Féin's success in the 1918 general election.

• His ability to adapt his ideas to the changing political landscape helped transform Sinn Féin from a minor political group into the leading voice of Irish nationalism.

"We declare for an independent Irish Republic. We affirm the necessity of independence and self-reliance." - Arthur Griffith

Sinn Féin's By-Election Success in 1917

• The year 1917 was a turning point for Sinn Féin, marked by a series of significant by-election victories that demonstrated the party's growing influence and the decline of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP).
• These successes clearly indicated that Sinn Féin was becoming the dominant force in Irish nationalism as the party began to win the electorate's support in key constituencies.
• One of the most notable by-elections took place in East Clare in July 1917, where Éamon de Valera won a decisive victory.
• De Valera, a prominent leader of the Easter Rising who had been sentenced to death but later had his sentence commuted, became the symbolic figurehead of the new Sinn Féin.
• His victory in East Clare, an IPP stronghold, was a clear sign that the political landscape in Ireland was shifting dramatically.
• Sinn Féin's platform of complete independence resonated with voters who were increasingly disillusioned with the IPP's failure to achieve Home Rule.
• Another significant by-election occurred in South Longford in May 1917, where Joseph McGuinness, a Sinn Féin candidate who was imprisoned at the time, won a seat previously held by the IPP.
• McGuinness's campaign slogan, "Put him in to get him out," emphasised the party's revolutionary credentials and its commitment to securing the release of political prisoners.
• His victory further demonstrated the public's growing support for Sinn Féin's more radical approach.
• These by-election victories were more than just electoral successes; they were symbolic of the broader shift in Irish public opinion.
• As Sinn Féin continued to gain momentum, it became clear that the party was on the path to replacing the IPP as the dominant force in Irish politics.
• The by-elections of 1917 laid the groundwork for Sinn Féin's sweeping victory in the 1918 general election, which would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Ireland's struggle for independence.

"We have come out of the jaws of death... into the sunlight of freedom." - Éamon de Valera after winning the East Clare by-election

The Funeral of Thomas Ashe

• The funeral of Thomas Ashe on 30 September 1917 was a pivotal moment in the history of the Irish independence movement, serving as a powerful symbol of resistance against British rule.
• Thomas Ashe was a prominent member of the Irish Volunteers and a leader in the Easter Rising. He was arrested in August 1917 for his involvement in anti-conscription activities and sentenced to hard labour in Mountjoy Prison.
• Ashe went on hunger strike to protest the conditions of his imprisonment, demanding to be treated as a prisoner of war rather than a common criminal.
• Ashe died on 25 September 1917 as a result of being force-fed by the prison authorities, an act that caused widespread outrage across Ireland.
• His death highlighted the brutality of British rule and the plight of Irish political prisoners, further galvanising nationalist sentiment.
• Thousands attended Ashe's funeral, including members of Sinn Féin, the Irish Volunteers, and the general public, making it one of the largest public demonstrations since the Easter Rising.
• The funeral procession, which passed through the streets of Dublin, was highly organised and took on a military character.
• Éamon de Valera and other Sinn Féin leaders used the occasion to rally support for the nationalist cause, and Ashe was given a full military funeral, with a volley of shots fired over his grave.
• The funeral became a focal point for the growing opposition to British rule, symbolising the sacrifices made by those who fought for Irish freedom.
• Ashe's death and the public response to it marked a significant turning point in the Irish independence movement. It demonstrated the increasing radicalisation of the nationalist cause and the declining influence of the Irish Parliamentary Party.
• The funeral helped to solidify Sinn Féin's position as the leading voice of Irish nationalism and set the stage for the party's subsequent electoral successes.

"Nothing additional remains to be said. He has left us our best example. When we feel the weakness of flesh, let us recall that example." - Éamon de Valera at Thomas Ashe's funeral

The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis of October 25, 1917

• The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis (party conference) held on 25 October 1917 was a crucial event in the transformation of Sinn Féin into a mass political movement dedicated to achieving full Irish independence.
• This conference marked the formal reorganisation of the party following the upheavals of the Easter Rising and the growing disillusionment with the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP).
• One of the most significant outcomes of the Ard Fheis was the election of Éamon de Valera as the president of Sinn Féin.
• De Valera, who had become a national hero after his role in the Easter Rising and his subsequent imprisonment, was seen as the ideal leader to guide Sinn Féin in its new, more radical direction.
• His election symbolised the party's shift from Griffith's earlier ideas of dual monarchy to a clear commitment to establishing an independent Irish Republic.
• The Ard Fheis also adopted a new constitution for Sinn Féin, which outlined the party's primary objective: to secure the international recognition of Ireland as an independent republic.
• This marked a decisive break from the more moderate nationalist policies of the IPP and set Sinn Féin on a collision course with the British government.
• The conference reaffirmed the party's commitment to achieving its goals through a combination of political action and, if necessary, armed resistance.
• Another key decision made at the Ard Fheis was the adoption of a policy of abstentionism, whereby Sinn Féin candidates elected to the British Parliament would refuse to take their seats.
• Instead, they would establish a separate Irish parliament, known as the Dáil Éireann, to assert Ireland's right to self-determination. This policy would become a cornerstone of Sinn Féin's