Dublin Opinion
Encyclopedia
Dublin Opinion was an Irish
satirical
magazine
, published monthly from 1922 to 1968. It was founded by cartoonists Arthur Booth
and Charles E. Kelly
and writer Thomas J. Collins. Booth was its first editor, and drew the covers of the early issues. The first issue was launched on 1 March 1922, and its entire print run of 3,000 sold out. The next issue sold poorly, but from the third issue the magazine was distributed by Eason & Son
and sales improved, rising to 40,000 per issue within four years, and 60,000 at its peak.
Launched on the eve of the Irish Civil War
, the magazine's editorial stance was carefully balanced between Free Staters and Republicans, and its satire was generally gentle, albeit less so when it came to Britain and northern Unionists. Booth's cartoons were sombre, focusing on the destruction caused by the war and the unemployment that followed, while Kelly's were more playful. Collins wrote most of the text pieces under a variety of pseudonyms, including Paul Jones, Clement Molyneaux, Lycurgus and Epictetus. After Booth's death in 1928, Kelly and Collins took over as joint editors.
Dublin Opinion was a showcase for Irish cartooning, including Bill Glenn's regular "Ballyscunnion
" scraperboard cartoon, and work by W. H. Conn
, Rowel Friers
, Grace Gifford
and many others, but by the mid-1960s, its popularity had begun to wane. Kelly and Collins wound up the magazine in 1967 and sold it to Louis O'Sullivan in 1968, under whose ownership it returned briefly, edited by Lelia Doolan and Joe Dowling
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, published monthly from 1922 to 1968. It was founded by cartoonists Arthur Booth
Arthur Booth (cartoonist)
Arthur James Conry Booth was an Irish cartoonist and one of the founders of the satirical magazine Dublin Opinion. Born in Dublin, he was educated at the Catholic University School and joined the Dublin United Transport Company. Through his interest in amateur dramatics, he met fellow cartoonist...
and Charles E. Kelly
Charles E. Kelly (cartoonist)
Charles Edward Kelly was an Irish cartoonist, and one of the founders and editors of the satirical magazine Dublin Opinion. His prolific contributions to the magazine were drawn in a variety of styles, from cartoony to illustrative.Kelly joined the Irish civil service as a messenger boy at the age...
and writer Thomas J. Collins. Booth was its first editor, and drew the covers of the early issues. The first issue was launched on 1 March 1922, and its entire print run of 3,000 sold out. The next issue sold poorly, but from the third issue the magazine was distributed by Eason & Son
Eason & Son
Eason & Son is a group involved in the wholesale, distribution and retail of books, newspapers, magazines, stationery and cards on the island of Ireland ....
and sales improved, rising to 40,000 per issue within four years, and 60,000 at its peak.
Launched on the eve of the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, the magazine's editorial stance was carefully balanced between Free Staters and Republicans, and its satire was generally gentle, albeit less so when it came to Britain and northern Unionists. Booth's cartoons were sombre, focusing on the destruction caused by the war and the unemployment that followed, while Kelly's were more playful. Collins wrote most of the text pieces under a variety of pseudonyms, including Paul Jones, Clement Molyneaux, Lycurgus and Epictetus. After Booth's death in 1928, Kelly and Collins took over as joint editors.
Dublin Opinion was a showcase for Irish cartooning, including Bill Glenn's regular "Ballyscunnion
Ballyscunnion
BallyscunnionDublin Opinion was an imaginary village in Ireland created by the artistWilliam St.John Glenn R.U.A. The work was produced on white china scraperboard, painted with black ink and then scraped off skilfully with a blade to produce details....
" scraperboard cartoon, and work by W. H. Conn
W. H. Conn
William H. Conn was an Irish cartoonist, illustrator, watercolourist and poster artist. The son of a lithographer, he was educated at the Ulster Provincial School, now Friends' School, Lisburn...
, Rowel Friers
Rowel Friers
Douglas Carson Rowel Boyd Friers, born Belfast, 13 April 1920, died Holywood, County Down, 21 September 1998, was a cartoonist, illustrator, painter and lithographer....
, Grace Gifford
Grace Gifford
Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett was an Irish artist and cartoonist who was active in the Republican movement...
and many others, but by the mid-1960s, its popularity had begun to wane. Kelly and Collins wound up the magazine in 1967 and sold it to Louis O'Sullivan in 1968, under whose ownership it returned briefly, edited by Lelia Doolan and Joe Dowling
Joe Dowling
Joe Dowling is the Artistic Director for the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He is also well-known for his work as Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre in Ireland, and has directed plays in all the major theatres in Ireland as well as theatres in London, New York, Washington...
.