Wolfe Tone Societies#Wolfe Tone Society.2C London
{{Short description|Irish republican group}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = The Wolfe Tone Societies
| native_name = {{langx|ga|Muintir Wolfe Tone}}
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| image = File:Portrait of Theobald Wolfe Tone.PNG
| alt =
| caption = Wolfe Tone, 20 June 1763 – 19 November 1798
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| abbreviation = WTS
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| formation = 1964
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| type = Irish political organisation
| status =
| purpose = Creation of an all Ireland republic
| headquarters = Dublin
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| region_served = Ireland
| membership = By invitation
| language = English and Irish
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The Wolfe Tone Societies (WTS) ({{langx|ga|Muintir Wolfe Tone}}[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/nai/1965/nai_TSCH-98-6-101_1965-nd.pdf National Archives Ireland] – Tuairisc: The news-letter of the Wolfe Tone Society, Number One) is an Irish republican group whose chief objective is the establishment of a 'united Irish Republic.'{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Dublin Wolfe Tone Society |url=http://www.iol.ie/~rjtechne/century130703/1960s/wtsconst.htm |website=Century of Endeavour |access-date=31 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604125159/http://www.iol.ie/~rjtechne/century130703/1960s/wtsconst.htm |archive-date=4 June 2011}} It evolved from the commemorative Directories which the IRA helped set up in 1963 to mark the bicentenary of the 1763 birth of Wolfe Tone.English, p. 85 In 1964 the Directories were dissolved and replaced with the Wolfe Tone Society. The publication of the Wolf Tone Society from 1965 onward was called Tuairisc.
History
In 1963 to celebrate the bi-centenary of Wolfe Tone's birth, Irish republicans formed the Wolfe Tone Bi-centenary Directories. Due to the support shown at the commemoration, it was decided at a meeting of the Directories in Dublin, July 1964, to disband the Directories and replace it with the "Muintir Wolfe Tone", or Wolfe Tone Society.[https://books.google.com/books?id=D07FBjetYM0C&dq=Muintir+Wolfe+Tone&pg=PA179 CAIN] – Century of Endeavour
The WTS was opposed to the Republic of Ireland's entry into the European Economic Community and was involved with the organisation Irish Voice on Vietnam which protested the war.{{cite book |last1=Treacy |first1=Matt |title=The IRA 1956–69: Rethinking the Republic |date=2013 |publisher=Manchester University Press}}
One of the key intellectuals who joined the societies was Roy Johnston, of Protestant background. He sought to encourage Protestants in Northern Ireland to support the nationalist cause.English, pp. 85-86
This organisation decided that it should focus on trying to "influence cultural and political trends in the country" and using democratic means to weaken the Unionist government of Northern Ireland.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} Its main bases of strength were in Belfast and Dublin.[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/crights/nicra/nicra781.htm CAIN] – "We Shall Overcome" .... The History of the Struggle for Civil Rights in Northern Ireland 1968 – 1978 by NICRA (1978)
In 1984, a Wolfe Tone Society was founded in London from the amalgamation of several London based Irish republican groups. It supports Sinn Féin,[http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/13309 An Phoblacht] – Wolfe Tone AGM rejects criminalisation and holds major meetings and republican commemorations at the Camden Irish Centre in London, which are attended by Sinn Féin members.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
Objectives
Upon its creation, the Wolfe Tone Society declared that its aim was to further the creation of a united, independent, democratic Irish
Republic as declared in the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic. To achieve this it would focus on trying to convince the people of Ireland to support its creation, via meetings, publications and other means. To help promote its message, the organisation published a newsletter called Tuairisc.
Involvement with NICRA
At a joint meeting of all the Wolfe Tone Societies which took place in the home of Kevin Agnew (republican solicitor) at Maghera, County Londonderry, August 1966,Coogan, p. 66 it was proposed that a civil rights campaign be started. The IRA's Chief of Staff Cathal Goulding was present and pledged support from his organisation. From this meeting another was arranged in Belfast on 29 January 1967 and the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was formed.English, p. 91 The thirteen man committee which was formed included Fred Heatley and Jack Bennett from the Wolfe Tone Societies and Liam McMillan of the IRA.
See also
References
{{Reflist|3}}
=Bibliography=
{{Refbegin}}
- English, Richard. Armed Struggle;– A History of the IRA, MacMillan, London 2003, {{ISBN|1-4050-0108-9}}
- Coogan, TP. The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal, 1969–96, and the Search for Peace, Arrow Books Ltd, 1996, {{ISBN|009946571X}}
{{Refend}}
External links
- [https://www.societies.ncl.ac.uk/pgfnewcastle/files/2014/11/In-The-Shadow-of-Gunmen-The-Wolfe-Tone-Society-1963-19691.pdf In the Shadow of Gunmen: The Wolfe Tone Society, 1963-1969] by Kenneth Sheehy
{{ATIRA}}
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Category:All-Ireland organisations
Category:Political organisations based in London
Category:Organizations established in 1964