Talk:Irish Confederation

Significance of the Irish Confederation ?

It would be great if we could expand the Irish Confederation article - I've been reluctant to just jump in but you seem interested in it. It certainly was more than just the passing reference most modern writers give it. Young Ireland was an idea but the Irish Confederation was the manifestation of the idea, and the men involved were not political or intellectual lightweights. It perhaps marked the beginning of a broadening consensus that colonial economic exploitation was the issue that had to be faced, not just civil or religious or land rights. The logical corollary was that the colony had to free itself, as the US had done, to end the exploitation as it would never be treated as an equal within the Kingdom. That's my theory anyway, but it isn't suitable for Wikipedia, which requires just facts and major ideas that academics agree on. The participants themselves like Mitchel and Doheny have already written down the facts, so perhaps an article for Wikipedia would just have to summarise their writing on the subject ? But then they were hardly unbiased were they ? Rcbutcher 13:00, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Irish Confederation

Rcbutcher, I would really like to expand the Irish Confederation page. Trying to bring it’s profile up is going to be the key. I like your description about Young Ireland being the idea etc. Really nice. As you can see, from my earlier attempts on Young Ireland, and John Mitchel, I have a lot to learn about Wikipedia, and would, in all probability, be in a battle a day until I get more experience. But! With your support and interest, the task would seem a little less daunting. Your point about Mitchel and Doheny, are perfectly right, they never disguised were their sympathy’s lay. The interest for me is proving them right or wrong. Thanks again, as you can see, yours was the first positive response I have received. Domer48

Building Up the Article

I have added these sections from the Young Ireland Page. That the two are inextricably linked, (one and the same), would be familiar to those readers with a knowledge of this period in Irish History. It would therefore be practical to deal with the Young Irelanders in general on the appropriate page (from when they joined the Repeal Association to the secession) , and merge the two at a later date, that is the formation of the Irish Confederation, the 1848 rebellion and trial and exile. This will involve a great deal of work though, and any suggestions would be welcome on this page. Domer48

That's a great reading list you've produced ! Perhaps a suitable approach might be to use the Irish Confederation page to describe the organization itself, in the way a regular political party might be described - i.e. where its offices were, what its constitution was, who led it, what were the tensions and competing views within it. Rcbutcher 11:00, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Hi Rcbutcher, That’s not a bad idea on the political history. The period of time though is a bit short, i.e. from the founding of the Confederation, to the establishment of the League, resulting in the dissolution of the Confederation. There is enough political intrigue involved in it though to make it really interesting and informative. The link that I have included for the Felon’s Track should help with a lot of the background. The book list is not yet complete, I have a couple more books to get, and will add them accordingly. There were a number of books produced for the “Library of Ireland” one of the Young Ireland projects, including the “Spirit of the Nation,” which I will include on the “Nation” Page. I have a beautiful illustration for the “Spirit of the Nation,” taken from the T.F O’Sullivan book “The Young Irelanders,” but I lack the technical know how on how you up load it. Copyright is not an issue at all, as with most of them; they can be obtained from the National Library of Ireland. If you know anyone or are familiar with the process yourself please let me know. It is really wonderful to talk with someone who shares my interest, many thanks, Regards Domer48