Liam's Irish Traditional Music - Irelands culture and tradition

In 1882 Parnell was accused of being involved in the murder of the chief Secretary of Ireland. The Irish Home Rule Party had close connections with the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Land League, both of which played a part in the murder; Parnell's party suffered a major setback in public image because of this. In 1889 he was cited in a divorce case.

Parnell had been involved in a long-term relationship with Kitty O'Shea, who was married to an Irishman. The evidence given in court was embarrassing, and impossible to deny. When the scandal became public knowledge through the newspapers, the Irish Home Rule Party and the British political parties became deeply divided between those who supported Parnell and those who did not. The Catholic Church condemned Parnell.

In 1890 the Home Rule Party voted on Parnell's position as leader of the Party, and the vote was against him by 45 to 29.

James Joyce grew up in Dublin and was educated as a Catholic. In this extract from his autobiography, he remembers as a little boy, hearing the adults around him argue over the fall of Parnell.