04.28.06
Protestants after 1916
I’ve steered clear of 1916…I think other more learned types have better things to say. However, a letters debate is taking place in the IT which raises the issue of the decline of the Protestant population between 1911 and 1926 (the census was taken in those two years). On one side you have those who claim that the War of Independence was responsible for this decline – i.e. a sort of pogrom took place between say 1918 and 1923 and Protestants were killed, burned out or chased out of the country. Here’s part of one letter today
[the writer refers to a point by Garret that Protestant numbers were in decline since 1871]
“Of course they were – so were Catholic numbers. But the point is that the proportion of Protestants to Catholics remained more or less constant in the 20 years before 1911. The fate of the southern Protestant population after 1923 or so is not relevant to the argument about why so many left between 1918 and that former date. What is relevant is that the proportionate decline in each community in the vital years covering the violent birth of the State were vastly different. The Protestant population of the 26 counties shrank by 34 per cent between 1911 and 1926. The Catholic population declined by only 2.2 per cent during that same period.”
While Protestants were of course victims of the War of Independence, quoting this 34% drop in numbers in support of an “ethnic cleansing” event completely ignores the fact that World War 1 intervened. (The census figures were taken in 1911 and again in 1926). Surely, this event, which practically wiped out a generation of protestant working class men should get a look in when this debate is taking place?
simon said,
April 28, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Also many left, and mixed marriage kids had to be raised Catholic. Pogram is a very strong word. Nothing close to a pogram happened here. Discrimination yes Pogram no
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
November 26, 2006 at 7:16 pm
There probably were some Protestants killed, but the War of Independence was broadly supported by most people in the 26 counties and that support was evidenced in organisations like the GAA etc.
Therefore most people would not stand to see Protestants killed.
It is true that 100 odd (hundreds???) houses from the pro-Britain aristrocacy were burned down and that they and their families probably moved.
The reality is that up until 1922 most protestants in Ireland were happy being part of Britain. I may be wrong, but I don’t think that there were many poor Protestants in the South- as opposed to North-East Ulster- who were poor.
After 1922 most Protestants in the South were happy to be part of the Free State. When they saw the determination to stamp out the Anti-Treaty IRA and SF they knew that they would be ok.
Sadly many former Pro-British (both Catholics and Protestants) joined the Free State Army and An Garda SÃochana. The Civil Service remained largely the same which meant that the platform from which Cumann na nGaedhal came from was never really forwarded.
I would like to know about the Protestant-Unionist community in the border counties. I find it amazing that there are about 10,000 allegedly (the same size as the Gaeltacht) of them and that there are even Free Presbyterian Churche(s) in our State.
Why are they not vocal? Its probably the same reason why most Gaeltacht people are not vocal about the Irish language- i.e. there is not a huge pond of them. No excuses though!!!
“I think other more learned types have better things to say.”
What do you mean?
I went to the parade of course and will go every year. It was great and symbolic to see RAF planes flying overhead. It shows you how far we have come.
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
November 26, 2006 at 7:18 pm
“It was great and symbolic to see RAF planes flying overhead”
Actually given their actions in Iraq it wasnt. That is the Govts. fault though.
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
November 27, 2006 at 12:12 am
“While Protestants were of course victims of the War of Independence, quoting this 34% drop in numbers in support of an “ethnic cleansing” event completely ignores the fact that World War 1 intervened. (The census figures were taken in 1911 and again in 1926). Surely, this event, which practically wiped out a generation of protestant working class men should get a look in when this debate is taking place?”
You should have written a letter to the Irish Times about that.
Ricky The Saint said,
May 24, 2007 at 9:34 am
It is clear from the records of the war of independence and subsequently during the civil war that the IRA targetted protestants as a legitimate target because of their religion in parts of the south, particularly Cork. A protestant progrom took place in Cork, and perhaps it could be argued in the west, especially southwest of the future RoI. Obviously in the east protestants were not targetted, which is unsurprising given their presence in the military/paramilitary command structures in the east of the future RoI.