"Michael Davitt: From the Gaelic American" tells the story of a collaboration between two giants of late nineteenth-century Irish nationalism: John Devoy and Michael Davitt, in the formulation of the New Departure and the early emergence of the land agitation. Devoy (1842-1928), a Fenian who assisted James Stephens in his escape from Richmond prison, only later to be imprisoned himself for administering the Fenian oath, was to spend most of his adult life in exile in the United States. He was a leading figure in Clan na Gael and a journalist for the "New York Herald" and later edited the "Gaelic American", in which this account of Davitt was serialised. Michael Davitt (1846-1906), once a major figure in the Irish Republican Brotherhood went on to found the Irish National Land League. Although both men shared similar hopes for the Irish nation their methods and approaches were to diverge, and they fell out in 1882. This memoir is particularly informative for the period between 1878 and 1880, when the New Departure was initiated. However, Devoy asserts that Davitt remained more loyal to the Fenian ideals than most of his contemporaries recognised.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Carla King and W. J. Mc Cormack MICHAEL DAVITT - Obituary, Michael Davitt passes away in Dublin Michael Davitt’s career Davitt’s relations with the Fenians I Davitt and the Fenians Davitt’s relations with the Fenians II Michael Davitt and the Clan na Gael Returned to Ireland to open campaign Davitt meets the Fenian leaders in Paris The Paris conference ended amicably Parnell’s relations with Clan na Gael With Parnell and Biggar in Boulogne Sought alliances with foreign powers. On the eve of the Land League in 1879 The agitation launched at Irishtown How Parnell accepted the leadership Conditions which Parnell agreed to Why the Fenians were hostile to Sullivan The great Claremorris land meeting Notes.