The Nation : Founded by Thomas Davis and Charles Gavan Duffy - v. 1 : Selections, 1842-1844 - Young Ireland; Daniel O'Connell; Monster Meetings; State Trials; A Ne

"The Nation", a popular weekly newspaper, which was distributed by Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association, was a new and unique departure for Irish life.

O'Connell brought self-awareness to the demoralized Irish people and raised them to the status of a disciplined "mob" (to use Patrick Pearse's description).

Young Ireland made that mob into a nation, capable of acting coherently, without the immediate inspiration of a charismatic leader, by developing its capacity for thought and action across the spectrum of civil society. "The Nation" carried philosophy, political analysis, principles of action, and literature.

But for Young Ireland, there would not be an Irish State today.

The ideology of The Nation was liberal, but its liberalism was specific to Irish requirements and was therefore anathema to the Imperialist Liberalism of England.

It was Irish-Ireland as well as pluralist. Both qualities are relevant at a time when Ireland appears ready to make its contribution as part of an expanding Europe of the Nations.

The present volume contains a selection from the first two years of the paper, made by Brendon Clifford, who also provides an introduction. The work seeks to let people make up their own minds by providing a substantial cross-section of the paper's contents.

It is hoped to continue in a further volume. The Aubane Society has also republished Charles Gavan Duffy's biography of Thomas Davis, which provides an overview of the Young Ireland movement up to Davis's death.