Rethinking the Irish Revolution : Religion, crises and nationalism 1900-1923

Mullett, Aidan Liam (2025) Rethinking the Irish Revolution : Religion, crises and nationalism 1900-1923. PhD thesis, Birkbeck, University of London.

Abstract

Using a spectrum model of faith, with traditionalist Catholics on one end of the spectrum and reformist Catholics on the other, this thesis seeks to demonstrate how Irish Catholic beliefs, stories and traditions conditioned the decisions of Irish Catholic revolutionaries and the general Irish Catholic population between 1900 and 1923. Much of the impetus behind advanced nationalism, particularly up to 1916, was driven by reformist Catholics. These individuals were generally committed Catholics although they prioritised the freedom of the Irish nation over allegiance to the Church and placed less of an emphasis on moral purity. Although reformist Catholics within the revolutionary movement were less deferential to clerics than traditionalist Catholics, they were keen not to antagonise the Church as this would have a negative impact upon public opinion. At times, reformist Catholics also leaned into traditionalist Catholic concepts and articulated the story of ‘the martyred people,’ to broaden the appeal of the revolutionary movement to those on the more pious end of the Catholic spectrum. Traditionalist Catholics were less likely to participate within the revolutionary movement, particularly up to 1916. These individuals tended to decline invitations to join the Irish Republican Brotherhood owing to the Church’s ban on secret societies and traditionalist Catholics in the I.R.A. found it particularly difficult to commit acts of violence. The growing alliance between advanced nationalism and the Church combined with the British state’s anti-Catholic activities such as the desecration of churches, however, encouraged traditionalist Catholics to join and support the revolutionary movement. The gravitation of traditionalist Catholics towards advanced nationalism in the latter years of the revolutionary period was reflected in the administration of the Irish Free State in 1922 which was governed by those on the more pious end of the Irish Catholic spectrum such as W.T. Cosgrave and Kevin O’Higgins.

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