Freeman's Journal

Infobox newspaper old
name =


type = Daily newspaper
format = broadsheet
founder = Charles Lucas
years = 1763 — 1924
political = moderate Irish nationalist
headquarters = unknown
editor = John Turner Fearon
The "Freeman's Journal" was the oldest nationalist newspaper in Ireland. It was founded in 1763 by Charles Lucas and was identified with radical 18th century Protestant patriot politicians Henry Grattan and Henry Flood. This changed from 1784 when it passed to Francis Higgins (known by his enemies as the "Sham Squire") and took a more pro-British and pro-administration view.

In the 19th century it became more nationalist in tone, particularly under the control and inspiration of Sir John Gray (1815-75).

"The Journal", as it was widely known as, was the leading newspaper in Ireland throughout the nineteenth century. Contemporary sources record it being read to the largely illiterate population by priests and local teachers gathering in homes. It was mentioned in contemporary literature and was seen as symbolising Irish newspapers for most of its time. By the 1880s it had become the primary media supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party.

It was challenged on all sides by rivals. On the nationalist side some preferred "The Nation" founded by Thomas Davis while others, including radical supporters of Parnell, read the "United Irishman". The Anglo-Irish establishment in contrast read the then Irish unionist "The Irish Times". With the split in the Irish Parliamentary Party over Parnell's relationship with Katherine O'Shea, its readership too split. While "The Journal" went with the majority in opposing Parnell, a minority moved to read the "Daily Irish Independent".

The collapse of the IPP in 1918, and the electoral success of Sinn Féin, saw a more radical nationalism appear that was out of step with the moderation of the Journal. It found itself overshadowed by the more aggressively marketed "Irish Independent", the successor to the "Daily Irish Independent". Just prior to the outbreak of the Irish Civil War in March 1922, the Freeman's Journal printing machinery was destroyed by Anti-Treaty IRA men under Rory O'Connor for its support of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. It did not resume publication until after the oubreak of civil war, when the Irish Free State re-asserted its authority over the country.

"The Freeman's Journal" ceased publication in 1924, when it was merged with the Irish Independent. Until the 1990s, the Irish Independent included the words 'Incorporating the Freeman's Journal' in its mast-head over its editorials.

The complete archives of the Freeman's Journal are available online at www.irishnewsarchive.com which is a subscription based website. However free access is available in many local libraries and higher level institutes through-out Ireland.

External links

* [http://www.irishnewspaperarchives.com/ "The Freeman's Journal" Website]
* [http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ "The Freeman's Journal" Website]