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Land, Popular Politics and Agrarian Violence in Ireland

The Case of County Kerry,1872-86

"Land, Popular Politics and Agrarian Violence in Ireland" provides an original and insightful study of the highly formative Land War and Home Rule from a local and regional perspective. Lucey examines the emergence and development of the largest mass political mobilisation brought about in nineteenth-century Ireland in the form of the Land League (1979-82), and subsequently the National League (1882-7), in the south-western county of Kerry. Such an unprecedented level of local political activity was matched by an upsurge in agrarian violence and the outbreak of serious outrage, which was largely orchestrated by secret societies known as Moonlighters. In turn, this book provides an important exploration of the dynamics behind the mass political mobilisation and agrarian violence that dominated Kerry society during the 1880s. The role of Fenians, radical agrarian agitators and moderate constitutional nationalists are all examined within the county.This study has importance beyond the local and provides a range of insights into motivations behind political action and violence at an everyday level during one of the most seminal and transformative eras in the development of modern Irish history. This title is suitable for students and academics of nineteenth-century Irish history and general readers.

286 pages | © 2015

History: British and Irish History


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Table of Contents

Introduction Background to the land war in Kerry Agricultural depression and the emergence of radical agitation Land League agitation The Land League, Fenianism and agrarian violence The Irish National League and the revival of Home Rule, October 1882 to September 1885 The operation of the National League The Irish National League and Moonlighters - Agrarian violence during the home rule period, 1885-6 Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index.

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