Córas na Poblachta
Encyclopedia
Córas na Poblachta abbreviated CnaP, was a minor Irish republican political party founded in 1940.
wings of the Irish Republican Army
. The inaugural meeting of the new party took place on 2 March 1940. Simon Donnelly
, who had fought in Boland's Mill
under Éamon de Valera
in 1916, the former leader of the Dublin section of the IRA, and former chief of the Irish Republican Police
, was elected as president of a central committee of fifteen members. Other leaders were Seán Fitzpatrick
, another War of Independence veteran; Con Lehane, who had lately left the IRA; Séamus Gibbons; Tom O'Rourke; Seán Dowling, one of Rory O'Connor’s principal lieutenants in the Civil War days; Colonel Roger McCorley
, one of the principal IRA leaders in Belfast
during the Anglo-Irish War who had taken the Free State side in the Civil War; Frank Thornton
, one of Michael Collins's
top intelligence officers; Roger McHugh, a lecturer in English at University College Dublin
and later professor; Captain Martin Bell and Peter O'Connor. Also in attendance at the first meeting was Seamus O'Donovan
, Director of Chemicals on IRA Headquarters Staff in 1921 and architect of the IRA Sabotage Campaign in England
by the IRA in 1939-1940. Indeed, O'Donovan proposed several of the basic resolutions.
. It also demanded that the Irish language
be given greater prominence in street names, shop signs, and government documents and bank notes. It proposed to introduce national service
in order that (male) citizens understood their responsibilities. The party’s economic policy was the statutory right to employment and a living wage. It proposed breaking the link with the British pound, the nationalisation of banks and the making of bank officials into civil servants. In the area of education, the party espoused free education
for all children over primary age as a right, and university education when feasible. It also called for the introduction of children’s allowances.
held shortly after the party’s foundation. The party slowly fell apart, and Tim Pat Coogan
notes that: “Dissolution occurred because people tended to discuss the party rather than join it.” Importantly, the party was not supported by the hardcore of republican legitimatists, such as Brian O'Higgins
, who viewed the IRA Army Council
as the legitimate government of an existing Irish Republic
. Indeed in March 1940, O'Higgins published a pamphlet entitled Declare the Republic lambasting the new party.
party which emerged and help take power from Fianna Fáil
in 1948.
Origins
The idea for a new party was discussed at a meeting in Dublin on February 21, 1940 attended by 104 former officers of the pro- and anti-TreatyAnglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
wings of the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
. The inaugural meeting of the new party took place on 2 March 1940. Simon Donnelly
Simon Donnelly (Irish Republican)
Simon Donnelly was a member of the Irish Republican Army and a founder member of both Córas na Poblachta and Clann na Poblachta....
, who had fought in Boland's Mill
Boland's Mill
Boland's Mill is located on the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, Ireland at the corner of Pearse Street and Barrow St. The majority of the complex consists of silos built in the 1940s. The mill stopped production in 2001 and the site is now derelict...
under Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
in 1916, the former leader of the Dublin section of the IRA, and former chief of the Irish Republican Police
Irish Republican Police
The Irish Republican Police was the police force of the 1919-1922 Irish Republic and was administered by the Department for Home Affairs of that government.-Foundation:...
, was elected as president of a central committee of fifteen members. Other leaders were Seán Fitzpatrick
Sean Fitzpatrick
Sean Fitzpatrick MNZM is a former rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand, and is widely regarded as one of the finest players ever to come from that country. He is also the son of former player Brian Fitzpatrick....
, another War of Independence veteran; Con Lehane, who had lately left the IRA; Séamus Gibbons; Tom O'Rourke; Seán Dowling, one of Rory O'Connor’s principal lieutenants in the Civil War days; Colonel Roger McCorley
Roger McCorley
Roger McCorley was an Irish republican activist.McCorley was born in Belfast. His family had a very strong republican tradition and he was the great-grandson of United Irishmen leader Roddy McCorley, who was executed for his part in the 1798 rebellion....
, one of the principal IRA leaders in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
during the Anglo-Irish War who had taken the Free State side in the Civil War; Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton is an English actor who is best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour and as Truly in Last of the Summer Wine.-Early life:...
, one of Michael Collins's
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
top intelligence officers; Roger McHugh, a lecturer in English at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and later professor; Captain Martin Bell and Peter O'Connor. Also in attendance at the first meeting was Seamus O'Donovan
Seamus O'Donovan
Seamus O'Donovan was a leading volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.A native of County Roscommon, he was an explosives expert and reputedly invented the "Irish Wallflower" and "Irish Cheddar" devices. He subsequently became IRA Director of Chemicals in 1921...
, Director of Chemicals on IRA Headquarters Staff in 1921 and architect of the IRA Sabotage Campaign in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by the IRA in 1939-1940. Indeed, O'Donovan proposed several of the basic resolutions.
Aims
The main aim of Córas na Poblachta was the formal declaration of a RepublicRepublic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
. It also demanded that the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
be given greater prominence in street names, shop signs, and government documents and bank notes. It proposed to introduce national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in order that (male) citizens understood their responsibilities. The party’s economic policy was the statutory right to employment and a living wage. It proposed breaking the link with the British pound, the nationalisation of banks and the making of bank officials into civil servants. In the area of education, the party espoused free education
Free education
Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation, or charitable organizations rather than tuition fees. Although primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in many countries, for example, all education is mostly free including...
for all children over primary age as a right, and university education when feasible. It also called for the introduction of children’s allowances.
Support
The party was not successful and failed to take a seat in a by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held shortly after the party’s foundation. The party slowly fell apart, and Tim Pat Coogan
Tim Pat Coogan
Timothy Patrick Coogan is an Irish historical writer, broadcaster and newspaper columnist. He served as editor of the Irish Press newspaper from 1968 to 1987...
notes that: “Dissolution occurred because people tended to discuss the party rather than join it.” Importantly, the party was not supported by the hardcore of republican legitimatists, such as Brian O'Higgins
Brian O'Higgins
Brian O'Higgins was an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was President of Sinn Féin from 1931–1933. He was elected unopposed as a Sinn Féin MP for Clare West at the 1918 general election...
, who viewed the IRA Army Council
IRA Army Council
The IRA Army Council was the decision-making body of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, more commonly known as the IRA, a paramilitary group dedicated to bringing about the end of the Union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The council had seven members, said by the...
as the legitimate government of an existing Irish Republic
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from Great Britain in January 1919. It established a legislature , a government , a court system and a police force...
. Indeed in March 1940, O'Higgins published a pamphlet entitled Declare the Republic lambasting the new party.
Legacy
Although a failure, Tim Pat Coogan argues Córas was the “nucleus” of the Clann na PoblachtaClann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta , abbreviated CnaP, was an Irish republican and social democratic political party founded by former Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff Seán MacBride in 1946.-Foundation:...
party which emerged and help take power from Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
in 1948.
Party publications
- Summary of policy, Dublin: Córas na Poblachta Central Committee, 1940.
- The republican plan for the new Ireland, Dublin: Córas na Poblachta Central Committee, 1942.
- Aicein: voice of the Irish Youth Movement, Córas na Poblachta, ca. 1941.
External links
- "50 Years Ago Córas na Poblachta", Saoirse, August 1997.