Irish Race Conventions
disconnected series of conventions held by Irish nationalists
The Irish Race Conventions were a disconnected series of conventions held by Irish nationalists. The majority were held in the United States and supported by Irish-American organisations, but others were held in Australia, Argentina, and France. Most related to the Irish Home Rule movement, but the two most recent conventions – in 1947 and 1994 – dealt with issues relating to Northern Ireland.
Places and dates
1881 Chicago
1896 Dublin
1916 New York City
1918 New York City
1919 Philadelphia
1921 Buenos Aires
1922 Paris
1947 New York City
1994 New York City
The conventions' agendas
Chicago 1881
In 1880, Charles Stewart Parnell had visited Chicago and the American branch of the Irish National Land League was established there. The first Irish Race Convention was held on 30 November – 2 December 1881, following a Clan na Gael convention in August. It covered the recent emerging links between the more violent groups, such as the Fenians, the Land League and the growing Irish Home Rule movement that was led by Parnell. Organized by John F. Finerty, and attended by Home Rule MPs T. P. O'Connor and Tim Healy, the convention's Home Rule Fund had soon raised $500,000.
Philadelphia 1883
John Finerty listed a convention at Philadelphia, where the main business was establishing local branches of the American branch of the Irish National League. Alexander Sullivan of Chicago was elected President, and Finerty was elected that year for the predominantly Irish Illinois's 2nd congressional district.
Dublin 1896
By 1896, two Home Rule Bills had been defeated in the London parliament, and the Home Rule movement had split over its support for Parnell.
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