How Revolutionary Was the "Irish Revolution"?

How Revolutionary Was the "Irish Revolution"? Marc Mulholland (bio) "My Lords, for ten years … it is no exaggeration, literal truth to say that there has been going on in Ireland a great revolution—social partly, political partly."1 So said Sir Charles Russell QC 1889. He was addressing special commission sitting judgment Land War and rise of radical Parnellite nationalist party since 1879. We are now more likely, however, think between 1912 1923 as Revolution." This way thinking relatively new. It true language revolution can be found Irish history, particularly ambiguity militant separatist tradition. Until reorganization 1873 formal certainty whether initials IRB indicated this brotherhood "revolutionary" or "republican."2 "Revolutionary" generally understood signal commitment illegality, regard distance from "constitutional" nationalism could easily shrink, episodes such 1879–82 had shown.3 But while we find self-identifying "revolutionaries" modern Ireland, revolutionism elided with militancy, claim period which independent state founded Northern carved out? A couple instant histories at time did refer revolution. Alison Phillips defined collapse British rule most local expression an ongoing international "revolution," generalized crisis stable hierarchy empires. For reason he called his book The Revolution rather than [End Page 139] Revolution.4 From perspective similarly ambiguous categorization Ireland's experience "revolution." William O'Brien, Came About, described process unrevolutionary terms: once backlash against home rule, its constitutional consummation.5 These descriptors "revolution" not stick after independence partition. In general, fixed term came describe totality series including third Home Rule bill "Ulster Crisis" 1912–14, 1913 Lock Out, 1916 Easter Rising, 1919–21 Anglo-Irish War, 1920–22 Ulster Troubles, 1922–23 Civil War. society still remembered these all too sharp clarity, yet concerned how collectively label them "decade centenaries," were intertwined paternosters. When blanket felt required, old Troubles" often rolled out.6 Padraic Colum, 1959 celebration Arthur Griffith, founder moderate Sinn Féin, argued affords admirable somewhat neglected case history our Western world."7 very many willing take up "nationalist revolution," however. Cold milieu conservative Fine Gael unlikely enthuse about any sort. used around fiftieth-anniversary celebrations 1916, stoutly ignored by unionists, "The Uprising" or, neutrally, 1969, Conflict."8 140] descriptor appeared end 1960s context wave national-liberation struggles global south. Oliver MacDonagh, revolutionary delusions "halfcrazed millenarians" yoked sober constitutionalism Griffith's Féin win independence.9 F.S.L. Lyons likewise depicted merging underground moderates achieve least "thwarted revolution."10 1971 C. Desmond Greaves revolution" biography leftist anti-Treaty leader Liam Mellowes. characterized incomplete "national revolution." implication escalating wrote, obvious.11 George Dangerfield 1976 study Damnable Question also spoke "unfinished...