The Irish Felon
Type | weekly newspaper |
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Founded | 24 June 1848 |
Political alignment | Irish nationalism |
Language | English |
Headquarters | Dublin |
Part of a series on |
Irish republicanism |
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The Irish Felon was a nationalist weekly journal printed in
History
The United Irishman was a republican journal printed and published by John Mitchel from February 1848. Mitchel had written for The Nation, which supported Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association, but resigned to create his more radical paper, advocating sedition. Another member of Young Ireland, John Martin, contributed to Mitchel's paper. Mitchel was arrested, initially charged with sedition but was then charged with the new crime of treason felony and on 21 May was sentenced to 14 years in Van Diemen's Land.[1][2][3]
Martin aimed to carry on Mitchel's political message. The gap for a more radical publication was first filled by The Irish Tribune, which appeared on 10 June and contained a memoir of Mitchel, however the first issue also contained an advertisement for Martin's new journal with a claim that it was the "successor to the United Irishman" and would be assisted by two other Young Irelanders, Thomas Devin Reilly and James Fintan Lalor. It was also stated that the journal would be "selected and compiled in the same manner as the United Irishman" and that "subscribers to the United Irishman will be supplied with "The Irish Felon" to the expiration of their respective Terms of Subscription."[4] The Irish Felon duly appeared on 24 June. Martin also established The Felon Club, one of many nationalist clubs. Reilly had previously provided articles for the United Irishman and Lalor had been a regular contributor to The Nation. Articles continued to cover the revolutionary unrest in Europe of the period. Martin, like Mitchel, printed and published the paper himself from the same address, 12 Trinity Street.[5]
Members of the
Martin was charged with treason felony. Lalor wrote to the Under-Secretary saying that he had written the articles which had been used as evidence against Martin. His appeal was rejected and he himself was arrested. Martin was given a 10-year sentence in Van Diemen's Land on 18 August. Lalor suffered from ill health in prison and was released some months later. He died the following year from bronchitis. Reilly escaped arrest and fled to the US.[11][12]
References
- ^ O'Sullivan, T.F. (1947). "Young Ireland". The Kerryman.
- ^ Sillard, P.A. (1908). Life of John Mitchel. Dublin: James Duffy and Co. Ltd.
- ^ "John Mitchel 1815-1875 Revolutionary". www.irelandseye.com. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Tribune. Vol. 1 No. 1". digital.library.villanova.edu. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ "The Irish felon, : successor to the United Irishman. Vol. 1 No. 1". digital.library.villanova.edu. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "FORCIBLE EJECTMENTS (IRELAND)". api.parliament.uk. Hansard. 24 March 1848. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "SECURITY OF THE CROWN". api.parliament.uk. Hansard. 7 April 1848. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "THE CHARTIST DISTURBANCES". api.parliament.uk. Hansard. 8 June 1848. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS (IRELAND)". api.parliament.uk. Hansard. 22 July 1848. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "The Irish felon, : successor to the United Irishman. Vol. 1 No. 5". digital.library.villanova.edu. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ O'Sullivan, T.F. (1945). "Young Ireland". The Kerryman.
- ^ Connolly, James (1910). Labour in Irish History. Dublin: Maunsell.