The raising of the first internal Dáil Éireann Loan and the British responses to it, 1919-1921

On 21 January 1919, twenty-seven of the recently elected Sinn Féin candidates gathered in Diblin's Mansion House and established Dáil Éireann. They declared their intention to develop a republican state administration in an attempt to supersede the existing British government run from Dublin Castle. Even the most skeletal of state administrations required substantial funding in order to build up the various government departments. The first internal Dáil Éireann Loan, launched in August 1919, served as the principle source of finance for Dáil Éireann during its embryonic years. Dáil Éireann bonds were sold to individuals across Ireland throughtout late 1919 and early 1920. It required a substantial logistical operation in every parish around the country to effectively organise and promote this loan. This thesis analyses the organisation and promotion of the loan, as well as outlining how subscriptions were solicited. The significance of the internal Dáil Loan becomes evident when the reaction and responses of Dublin Castle to its progress are examined. Initially in early 1919, the British administration in Ireland had adopted a somewhat apathetic attitude towards Dáil Éireann. However, this attitude altered significantly in the immediate aftermath of the launch of the Dáil Loan. Dublin Castle declared Dáil Éireann, and by extension the Dáil Loan, illegal. The authorities were empowered to surpress the loan with immediate effect. This thesis discusses the difference means by which the loan campaign was suppressed and evaluates how successful this suppression was.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

National University of Ireland Maynooth

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Evans, Gary

• History

Language dc:language

en