Sinn Féin (19th century)

Sinn Féin (19th century)

"Sinn Féin" was a political slogan used by Irish nationalists in the latter nineteenth and early twentieth century. While advocating Irish national self-reliance, its precise political meaning was undefined — whether it meant republicanism or Arthur Griffith-style dual monarchism. Its earliest use was to describe individual political radicals unconnected with any party. In the 1890s it was used by the Gaelic Leaguecite book|title=The Resurrection of Ireland: The Sinn Féin Party, 1916-1923|first=Michael|last=Laffan|pages=20|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date=1999|id=ISBN 0521650739] , which advocates the revival of the Irish language.

"Sinn Féin" is an Irish-language phrase whose literal translation is "ourselves" or "we ourselves" [cite book|title=Irish-English Dictionary |first=Patrick|last=Dinneen|authorlink=Patrick S. Dinneen|year=1927 (1992)|publisher=Irish Texts Society|place=Dublin|id=ISBN 1870166000 Also, "Sinn Féin! Sinn Féin!" was an exortation to quell a brimming feud, i.e. "we are all one here!"] ; however, at the time the most common rendering in English was "ourselves alone", which was also used as a political slogan; it is unclear whether the English or Irish version came first. The name itself may have been a construct of opponents to highlight the individuals' political isolation [cite book|last=Jackson|first=Alvin|title=Home Rule: An Irish History 1800—2000|location=Phoenix|year=2004] or the perceived selfishness of abandoning Britain, as in this Punch parody [cite book|title=Mr. Punch's History of the Great War|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|id=ISBN 141913566X|date=2004|pages=149] from World War I:: [..] For Truth and Right the fools may fight,:We fight but for "Ourselves Alone." [..]

The name was adopted by Arthur Griffith for the "Sinn Féin policy" he presented in 1905, and the Sinn Féin party formed over 1905-7. After this the term "Sinn Féin" gradually came to be associated specifically with the views espoused by that party.

Early uses

A collectioncite book|first=Thomas|last=Davis|authorlink=Thomas Osborne Davis (Irish politician)|title=Ballads and Songs by the Writers of "The Nation"|publisher=James Duffy|location=Dublin|year=1845] was published in 1845 of poems printed in "The Nation", the nationalist newspaper of the Young Irelanders. It includes a poem entitled "Ourselves Alone" by "Sliabh Cuilinn" (John O'Hagan): [Davis, op. cit., pg 61] : [...] Too long our Irish hearts we schooled:In patient hopes to bide,:By dreams of English justice fooled:And English tongues that lied.:That hour of weak delusion's past—:The empty dream has flown ::Our hope and strength, we find at last,:Is in OURSELVES ALONE. [...]

Another poem in the same volume, "The Spirit of the Nation" by D.F. McCarthy, uses the expression "Sinn Féin". The gloss in the original for this is 'Ourselves—or "OURSELVES ALONE."' [Davis, op. cit., pg 75] : [...] "A chuisle mo chroidhe", we are wounded and sore,:So bad that we cannot endure it much more.:A cure we must have, though the Saxons may stare:And "curse like a trooper;" but devil may care,:"Sinn Féin" is our watch-word—so devil may care. [...]

A nationalist play by "Tom Telephone" (Thomas Stanislaus Cleary) published in 1882 was entitled "Shin Fain; or Ourselves Alone".

References

External links

* [http://republican-news.org/archive/1999/September30/30hist.html Sinn Féin and Sinn Féin] article from "An Phoblacht"


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sinn Féin — For the 19th century use of the term, see Sinn Féin (19th century). Sinn Féin Secretary General Dawn Doyle Founder Arthur Griffith …   Wikipedia

  • United Kingdom — a kingdom in NW Europe, consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: formerly comprising Great Britain and Ireland 1801 1922. 58,610,182; 94,242 sq. mi. (244,100 sq. km). Cap.: London. Abbr.: U.K. Official name, United Kingdom of Great… …   Universalium

  • Ireland — Irelander, n. /uyeur leuhnd/, n. 1. John, 1838 1918, U.S. Roman Catholic clergyman and social reformer, born in Ireland: archbishop of St. Paul, Minn., 1888 1918. 2. Also called Emerald Isle. Latin, Hibernia. a large western island of the British …   Universalium

  • Northern Ireland — a political division of the United Kingdom, in the NE part of the island of Ireland. 1,537,200; 5238 sq. mi. (13,565 sq. km). Cap.: Belfast. * * * Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion …   Universalium

  • Irish nationalism — The green harp flag was first used by Irish Confederate troops in the Eleven Years War, and became the main symbol of Irish nationalism in the 19th and early 20th century Irish nationalism (Irish: Náisiúnachas Éireannach) manifests itself in… …   Wikipedia

  • Northern Ireland — This article is about the country. For other uses, see Northern Ireland (disambiguation). Northern Ireland Tuaisceart Éireann Norlin Airlann …   Wikipedia

  • Newry — For other uses, see Newry (disambiguation). Coordinates: 54°10′34″N 6°20′56″W / 54.176°N 6.349°W / 54.176; 6.349 …   Wikipedia

  • Belfast — This article is about the capital of Northern Ireland. For other uses, see Belfast (disambiguation). Coordinates: 54°35′49″N 5°55′48″W / 54.597°N 5.930°W / …   Wikipedia

  • United Kingdom — Infobox Country conventional long name = United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland common name = the United Kingdom symbol type = Royal coat of arms map caption = map caption |countryprefix=the |region=on the European continent… …   Wikipedia

  • History of Ireland (1801–1922) — From 1801 to 1922 the whole island of Ireland formed a constituent part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (UK). For almost all of this period, Ireland was ruled directly by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in London.Ireland… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”