Liam's Irish Traditional Music - A Constitutional Dilemma

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1900-1912

Irish affairs were moulded by more than British jurisdiction in the twentieth century.  Events in Europe were moving towards the conflict of the First World War, and competition from Germany and America was having an effect on the British economy.  Within Britain there was much civil unrest.  A General Election in 1906 swept the Liberals to power.  The Party maintained its support of Irish Home Rule, and in April 1912 the third Liberal Home Rule Bill was introduced. In Ireland social and intellectual movements thrived, rather than politics.  There was an upsurge of interest in Ireland's Gaelic past.  Literature and the theatre flourished, the Gaelic League revived the Celtic language, and the Gaelic Athletic Association drew a large membership.  Both the Gaelic League and the GAA contained nationalist supporters who worked under cover of these organizations.  The Sinn Fein (We ourselves) movement was founded by Arthur Griffiths in 1905, but, like other aspects of nationalist politics, remained without support.  Slowly, the Irish party at Westminster grew again, under the guidance of John Redmond; By 1912 Redmond's party controlled the balance of power at Westminster, and agreed to support the Liberal Party in return for Home Rule.  The Conservative Party pledged support for Ulster, the Protestants and the Orange Order.

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