Irish Confederation facts for kids

The Irish Confederation was an important group in Ireland that wanted the country to be independent. It was started on January 13, 1847. This group was formed by members of the Young Ireland movement. They had left another group called the Repeal Association, which was led by Daniel O'Connell. A historian named T. W. Moody called the Irish Confederation "the official organisation of Young Ireland."

Why the Irish Confederation Started

In 1846, the British government changed. A new group, the Whigs, took power. Daniel O'Connell led the Repeal Association. This group wanted to end the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland. O'Connell tried to get his group to support the new Whig government.

Disagreements with Young Irelanders

Some members of the Repeal Association, known as the "Young Irelanders," disagreed. They were young men who wrote for The Nation newspaper. They believed Ireland's freedom should not be traded for political favors. Thomas Francis Meagher said that the national cause might be "sacrificed" to the new government.

The Young Irelanders strongly opposed working with British political parties. They felt this was wrong as long as Ireland was not independent. Some people close to O'Connell wanted to remove the Young Irelanders from the Repeal Association. They tried to make the Young Irelanders seem like troublemakers.

The "Peace Resolutions" Debate

On July 13, 1846, new rules were suggested for the Repeal Association. These rules said that a nation was never allowed to use force to gain its freedom. The Young Irelanders had never said they wanted to use force. But they did not agree with these "Peace Resolutions." They felt the resolutions were too strict.

The resolutions were brought up again on July 28. Thomas Francis Meagher then gave his famous "Sword Speech". He argued that there was no need for these resolutions. He said that using weapons at that time would be "senseless and wicked."

However, Meagher disagreed with saying that force was wrong "in all countries, at all times." He believed there were times when using force might be necessary for freedom. He spoke strongly about this idea. Many in the audience began to agree with him.

Leaving the Repeal Association

John O'Connell, Daniel O'Connell's son, interrupted Meagher. He said either he or Meagher had to leave the hall. William Smith O'Brien protested this attempt to silence Meagher. He and other important Young Irelanders then left the meeting. They never returned to the Repeal Association.

Forming the Irish Confederation

After talks to reunite failed, the Young Irelanders decided to start a new group. They called it the Irish Confederation. They wanted to bring back the strong demand for an Irish Parliament. This Parliament would have full power to make laws and run the country.

The founders also decided that members should not seek jobs or positions from the British government. They wanted to return to the honest goals of the early Repeal Association. Many young people supported them. Even some people who had supported the union with Britain were upset. They felt the British Parliament was ignoring Ireland's needs during the famine.

First Meeting and Members

The first meeting of the Irish Confederation happened in Dublin on January 13, 1847. John Shine Lawlor was the chairperson. John Blake Dillon and Charles Gavan Duffy were the first secretaries. Later, Meagher replaced Duffy.

About ten thousand people joined the group. However, very few wealthy landowners or middle-class people joined. Most Catholic priests were also not friendly towards the group. Because many people were poor, joining was free. The founders of the group paid the costs themselves.

1847 General Election

In the 1847 United Kingdom general election, three candidates from the Irish Confederation ran for office. These were Richard O'Gorman in Limerick City, William Smith O'Brien in Limerick County, and Thomas Chisholm Anstey in Youghal. O'Brien and Anstey were elected to Parliament.

Activities in England

Many Irish people moved to England. Because of this, the Irish Confederation also started groups there. There were more than a dozen clubs in Liverpool. In Manchester and Salford, there were 16 clubs with over 700 members.

See also

• Joseph Henry Blake
• William Smith O'Brien
• Robert Cane
• Michael Doheny
• Charles Gavan Duffy
• D'Arcy McGee
• Father John Kenyon
• James Fintan Lalor
• Terence MacManus
• Thomas Francis Meagher
• John Mitchel
• Thomas Devin Reilly
• Patrick James Smyth