Irish National Federation
Encyclopedia
The Irish National Federation (INF) was a nationalist
political party
in Ireland
. It was founded in March 1891 by former members of the Irish National League
(INL) who had left the Irish Parliamentary Party
(IPP) in protest when Charles Stewart Parnell
refused to resign the party leadership as a result of his involvement in the divorce proceedings of Katharine O'Shea, the separated wife of a fellow MP. with whom he had had a long standing family relationship.
The group, which had a larger membership than the rump of the former Irish Party or National League (INL) who stood by Parnell under the leadership of John Redmond
, became known as the Anti-Parnellite faction and was led in the first year by Justin McCarthy
then by John Dillon
. The INF was supported by the Catholic clergy who strongly influenced the elections of 1892 and 1895 and various by-elections of the period. The Irish Times reported 23 February 1893 that ‘the priests…swarmed at all the polling stations, and kept the voters constantly in view’.
Membership declined during the decade, particularly after the United Irish League
(UIL) was founded in 1898 by William O'Brien
which sought party reunification. As a result, in 1900, the Federation joined the UIL merging with the INL under the joint the leadership of John Redmond
to form the new reunified Irish Parliamentary Party.
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...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
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 March 1891 by former members of the Irish National League
National League (Ireland, 1882)
The Irish National League was a nationalist political party in Ireland. It was founded in October 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell as the successor to the Irish National Land League after this was suppressed...
(INL) who had left 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...
(IPP) in protest when 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...
refused to resign the party leadership as a result of his involvement in the divorce proceedings of Katharine O'Shea, the separated wife of a fellow MP. with whom he had had a long standing family relationship.
The group, which had a larger membership than the rump of the former Irish Party or National League (INL) who stood by Parnell under the leadership of John Redmond
John Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
, became known as the Anti-Parnellite faction and was led in the first year by Justin McCarthy
Justin McCarthy
Justin McCarthy was an Irish nationalist and Liberal historian, novelist and politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1879 to 1900, taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland- Early life :He was born in Cork, and was educated at a school there...
then by John Dillon
John Dillon
John Dillon was an Irish land reform agitator from Dublin, an Irish Home Rule activist, a nationalist politician, a Member of Parliament for over 35 years, and the last leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party....
. The INF was supported by the Catholic clergy who strongly influenced the elections of 1892 and 1895 and various by-elections of the period. The Irish Times reported 23 February 1893 that ‘the priests…swarmed at all the polling stations, and kept the voters constantly in view’.
Membership declined during the decade, particularly after the United Irish League
United Irish League
The United Irish League was a nationalist political party in Ireland, launched 23 January 1898 with the motto "The Land for the People" . Its objective to be achieved through agrarian agitation and land reform, compelling larger grazier farmers to surrender their lands for redistribution amongst...
(UIL) was founded in 1898 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...
which sought party reunification. As a result, in 1900, the Federation joined the UIL merging with the INL under the joint the leadership of John Redmond
John Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
to form the new reunified Irish Parliamentary Party.