Freeman's Journal
Encyclopedia
The Freeman's Journal was the oldest nationalist
newspaper in Ireland
. It was founded in 1763 by Charles Lucas
and was identified with radical 18th century Protestant patriot
politicians Henry Grattan
and Henry Flood
. This changed from 1784 when it passed to Francis Higgins (better known as the "Sham Squire", and the informer who gave away the whereabouts of Lord Edward Fitzgerald
) and took a more pro-British and pro-administration view.
In the 19th century it became more nationalist in tone, particularly under the control and inspiration of Sir John Gray (1815-75).
The Journal, as it was widely known as, was the leading newspaper in Ireland throughout the nineteenth century. Contemporary sources record it being read to the largely illiterate population by priests and local teachers gathering in homes. It was mentioned in contemporary literature and was seen as symbolising Irish newspapers for most of its time. By the 1880s it had become the primary media supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell
and the Irish Parliamentary Party
.
It was challenged on all sides by rivals. On the nationalist side some preferred The Nation
founded by Thomas Davis
while others, including radical supporters of Parnell, read the United Irishman
. The Anglo-Irish establishment
in contrast read the then Irish unionist The Irish Times
. With the split in the Irish Parliamentary Party
over Parnell's relationship with Katherine O'Shea
, its readership split too. While The Journal went with the majority in 1893 in opposing Parnell
, a minority moved to read the Daily Irish Independent
. It was also challenged from the turn of the century by William O'Brien
's Irish People and the Cork Free Press
. With Thomas Sexton becoming Chairman of the Board of Directors (1893-1911), the Journal languished under his spartanic management.
The collapse of the IPP in 1918, and the electoral success of Sinn Féin
, saw a more radical nationalism appear that was out of step with the moderation of the Journal. It found itself overshadowed by the more aggressively marketed Irish Independent
, the successor to the Daily Irish Independent. Just prior to the outbreak of the Irish Civil War
in March 1922, the Freeman's Journal printing machinery was destroyed by Anti-Treaty IRA men under Rory O'Connor
for its support of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
. It did not resume publication until after the outbreak of civil war, when the Irish Free State re-asserted its authority over the country.
The Freeman's Journal ceased publication in 1924, when it was merged with the Irish Independent
. Until the 1990s, the Irish Independent included the words 'Incorporating the Freeman's Journal' in its mast-head over its editorials.
Limited archives of the Freeman's Journal are available online at the Irish News Archive, a subscription-based website. The 1820-1900 period is covered in a more complete manner by the British Library Newspapers website.
's novel Ulysses
immortalised the Freeman's Journal as the place of employment of Leopold Bloom
, who sold advertisements for the paper.
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
newspaper in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was founded in 1763 by Charles Lucas
Charles Lucas (politician)
Charles Lucas was an Irish apothecary, physician and politician. He sat as Member of Parliament for Dublin City and was known as the "Irish Wilkes" because of his radical views.-Early life:...
and was identified with radical 18th century Protestant patriot
Irish Patriot Party
The Irish Patriot Party was the name of a number of different political groupings in Ireland throughout the 18th century. They were primarily supportive of Whig concepts of personal liberty combined with an Irish identity that rejected full independence, but advocated strong self-government within...
politicians Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
and Henry Flood
Henry Flood
Henry Flood , Irish statesman, son of Warden Flood, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he became proficient in the classics...
. This changed from 1784 when it passed to Francis Higgins (better known as the "Sham Squire", and the informer who gave away the whereabouts of Lord Edward Fitzgerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald was an Irish aristocrat and revolutionary. He was the fifth son of the 1st Duke of Leinster and the Duchess of Leinster , he was born at Carton House, near Dublin, and died of wounds received in resisting arrest on charge of treason.-Early years:FitzGerald spent most of his...
) and took a more pro-British and pro-administration view.
In the 19th century it became more nationalist in tone, particularly under the control and inspiration of Sir John Gray (1815-75).
The Journal, as it was widely known as, was the leading newspaper in Ireland throughout the nineteenth century. Contemporary sources record it being read to the largely illiterate population by priests and local teachers gathering in homes. It was mentioned in contemporary literature and was seen as symbolising Irish newspapers for most of its time. By the 1880s it had become the primary media supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
and the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
.
It was challenged on all sides by rivals. On the nationalist side some preferred The Nation
The Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
founded by Thomas Davis
Thomas Osborne Davis (Irish politician)
Thomas Osborne Davis was a revolutionary Irish writer who was the chief organizer and poet of the Young Ireland movement.-Early life:...
while others, including radical supporters of Parnell, read the United Irishman
United Irishman
The United Irishman title has been a very popular newspaper title in Ireland and a number of newspapers have been published under the title.*...
. The Anglo-Irish establishment
Protestant Ascendancy
The Protestant Ascendancy, usually known in Ireland simply as the Ascendancy, is a phrase used when referring to the political, economic, and social domination of Ireland by a minority of great landowners, Protestant clergy, and professionals, all members of the Established Church during the 17th...
in contrast read the then Irish unionist The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
. With the split in the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
over Parnell's relationship with Katherine O'Shea
Katherine O'Shea
Katharine O'Shea, also known as Katie O'Shea, Kitty O'Shea or, following her second marriage, Katharine Parnell was an English woman of aristocratic background, whose family relationship over many years with Charles Stewart Parnell eventually caused his political downfall.-Background:She was born...
, its readership split too. While The Journal went with the majority in 1893 in opposing Parnell
Irish National Federation
The Irish National Federation was a nationalist political party in Ireland. It was founded in March 1891 by former members of the Irish National League who had left the Irish Parliamentary Party in protest when Charles Stewart Parnell refused to resign the party leadership as a result of his...
, a minority moved to read the Daily Irish Independent
Daily Irish Independent
The Daily Irish Independent was an Irish newspaper launched in the 1890s to promote the pro-Parnellite cause following the split in the Irish Parliamentary Party over Parnell's continuing leadership...
. It was also challenged from the turn of the century by William O'Brien
William O'Brien
William O'Brien was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
's Irish People and the Cork Free Press
Cork Free Press
The Cork Free Press was a nationalist newspaper in Ireland, which circulated primarily in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, and was the newspaper of the dissident All-for-Ireland League party...
. With Thomas Sexton becoming Chairman of the Board of Directors (1893-1911), the Journal languished under his spartanic management.
The collapse of the IPP in 1918, and the electoral success of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, saw a more radical nationalism appear that was out of step with the moderation of the Journal. It found itself overshadowed by the more aggressively marketed Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
, the successor to the Daily Irish Independent. Just prior to the outbreak 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....
in March 1922, the Freeman's Journal printing machinery was destroyed by Anti-Treaty IRA men under Rory O'Connor
Rory O'Connor (Irish republican)
Rory O'Connor was an Irish republican activist. He is best remembered for his role in the Irish Civil War 1922-1923, which led to his execution.-Background:...
for its support of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-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...
. It did not resume publication until after the outbreak of civil war, when the Irish Free State re-asserted its authority over the country.
The Freeman's Journal ceased publication in 1924, when it was merged with the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
. Until the 1990s, the Irish Independent included the words 'Incorporating the Freeman's Journal' in its mast-head over its editorials.
Limited archives of the Freeman's Journal are available online at the Irish News Archive, a subscription-based website. The 1820-1900 period is covered in a more complete manner by the British Library Newspapers website.
In fiction
James JoyceJames Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's novel Ulysses
Ulysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
immortalised the Freeman's Journal as the place of employment of Leopold Bloom
Leopold Bloom
Leopold Bloom is the fictional protagonist and hero of James Joyce's Ulysses. His peregrinations and encounters in Dublin on 16 June 1904 mirror, on a more mundane and intimate scale, those of Ulysses/Odysseus in The Odyssey....
, who sold advertisements for the paper.