Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Nationalists, separatists, and the British political maze; 2. Volunteers, war, and rebellion; 3. Nationalists, republicans, and the politics of war; 4. Democracy, citizenship, and the Irish national ideal; 5. Arms, conflict, and post-war violence; Conclusion; Index.

Promotional Information

Explores Irish nationalism in Britain, from the politics of John Redmond to the political violence of Michael Collins.

About the Author

Darragh Gannon is Head of Irish Studies at University College Dublin and Fulbright Irish Scholar at Georgetown University. He has previously held fellowships at the University of Melbourne, the University of Toronto, and New York University. He has published widely on the Irish diaspora and the Irish Revolution, including Proclaiming a Republic: Ireland, 1916 and the National Collection (2016) and Ireland 1922: Independence, Partition, Civil War, with Fearghal McGarry (2021). He currently serves as Vice President of the Global Irish Diaspora Congress.

Reviews

'An essential addition to the history of Irish nationalism. Moving between Dublin and British cities like London, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow, this book tells the fascinating story of how the Irish diaspora balanced their commitment to freedom for Ireland with the realities of living at the heart of the British Empire.' Roisin Healy, University of Galway

'This is an important book which transforms our understanding of the Irish diaspora in Britain and its politics across the crucial period 1912–1922. Combining the methods and arguments of new political history with a thorough archival reconstruction of Irish nationalist politics, Conflict, Diaspora and Empire deserves to be widely read.' Jon Lawrence, University of Exeter

'A striking work of new political history, this study illuminates the politics of Irish diasporic nationalism during a pivotal era. In rich archival detail, it traces the evolution from constitutional to militant nationalism and offers new ways of thinking about minority politics in twentieth-century Britain.' Mo Moulton, University of Birmingham

'The level of detail presented on the various currents of Irish nationalism in Britain makes for a fascinating read. Gannon has done the Irish in Britain a great service in identifying the very full contribution of those Irish nationalists living in Britain who played a significant part in the fight for Irish freedom during the revolutionary period. He brilliantly brings alive the battle for the hearts and minds of those Irish living in Britain from pro-Union and pro-Irish independence sides but also different sides within the Independence movement.' Kevin Rooney, Irish Border Poll

'… A pioneering new study of the era's evolving politics.' Dermot Bolger, Sunday Business Post

'… Darragh Gannon has mined a wealth of published and archival material to produce a compelling history of Irish nationalism in Britain through the phases of that hectic decade of war and revolution …' Dan Mulhall, Irish Post

'… a groundbreaking study of how Ireland won freedom.' Martin Mansergh, Sunday Independent

'a persuasive book … (it) deserves to be widely read.' David McCullagh, RTE

'confident and original … this book fills a significant hole in the history of the revolutionary decade.' Diarmaid Ferriter, The Irish Times

'Darragh Gannon has written a persuasive book, which strongly suggests that accounts of the revolutionary decade which treat events in Britain as marginal, are actually looking through the wrong end of the telescope; the successes and failures of Irish nationalists in Britain had an important impact on events between 1912 and 1922. This book deserves to be widely read…' RTE

'A truly laudable book. In his steadfast refusal to portray either 'the' British or 'the' Irish as static categories, and in his forensic analysis of the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary efforts of the Irish in Britain to aid their kin in Ireland to attain self-government - in whatever form - Darragh Gannon has written what is sure to be essential reading for students of the Irish Revolution.' Timothy G. McMahon, Irish Literary Supplement

'A fascinating and well-researched book on a major topic.' Richard English, Irish Political Studies