Irish Independence Party
Encyclopedia
The Irish Independence Party (IIP) was an nationalist
political party
in Northern Ireland
, founded in October 1977 by Frank McManus
(former Unity
MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone
between 1970 and 1974) and Fergus McAteer
(son of Eddie McAteer
, who had been leader of the Nationalist Party
between 1953 and 1959). The party was effectively a merger of Unity
and the Nationalist Party as the bulk of activists and councillors from the two movements joined IIP. However several previously independent councillors also joined the party and the party was boosted in the late 1970s by the defection of a prominent Protestant Larne SDLP councillor, John Turnley
, later the party chairman, who was killed in 1980 in Carnlough
, County Antrim
by an attack claimed by the Ulster Defence Association
.
The party first came to prominence by standing three candidates in the 1979 UK general election
. Its best result came in the Mid Ulster constituency
where Patrick Fahy captured 12,055 votes, however the main effect was to split the Nationalist vote and prevent the Social Democratic and Labour Party
from gaining the seat.
The IIP continued to grow as it became involved in the campaign to support prisoners in the Maze prison who were "on the blanket" and later hunger strike
. The IIP won 21 seats on councils in the local elections of 1981
as a result of its involvement although this support was fairly localised with 17 of the 21 seats being won in just four councils Fermanagh, Derry, Omagh and Newry & Mourne. However for a short period of time it came to be accepted by some as a voice of Irish republicanism
(although a number of other groups had similar but smaller localised support, with both the People's Democracy
and the Irish Republican Socialist Party
securing 2 seats each in Belfast at the same election).
The IIP boycotted the Assembly elections in October 1982 leaving the field clear for Sinn Féin
who began standing candidates in elections in the early 1980s. As a result, the IIP lost republican support, for example in the first by-election in which Sinn Féin stood in Omagh in 1983 the IIP were only able to poll 5% in a seat that they had previously held while the Sinn Féin candidate took 60%. Meantime moderate nationalists had remained with the SDLP. The party remained active until at least 1985
, when it had four councillors elected in local council elections, but appears to have been disbanded before the next local elections in 1989
.
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, founded in October 1977 by Frank McManus
Frank McManus (Irish politician)
Frank McManus is an Irish nationalist activist and former Member of the British House of Commons.Born in Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh,he is a brother of Father Seán McManus, the Irish-American lobbyist and Catholic priest, and Pat McManus, a member of the IRA killed in an explosion in 1958.He...
(former Unity
Unity (Northern Ireland)
"Unity" was the political label for a series of electoral pacts by Irish nationalist and Irish Republican candidates in Northern Ireland elections in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone
Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)
Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary constituency in the British House of Commons. The current MP for the constituency is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin....
between 1970 and 1974) and Fergus McAteer
Fergus McAteer
Fergus McAteer is an accountant and former politician in Northern Ireland.The son of Nationalist Party leader Eddie McAteer, Fergus was active in the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. He was arrested during the events of Bloody Sunday and charged with throwing stones, but the charges were...
(son of Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer was an nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Coatbridge, Scotland, McAteer's family moved to Derry in Northern Ireland while he was young. In 1930 he joined the Inland Revenue, where he worked until 1944. He then became an accountant and more actively involved in politics...
, who had been leader of the Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....
between 1953 and 1959). The party was effectively a merger of Unity
Unity (Northern Ireland)
"Unity" was the political label for a series of electoral pacts by Irish nationalist and Irish Republican candidates in Northern Ireland elections in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
and the Nationalist Party as the bulk of activists and councillors from the two movements joined IIP. However several previously independent councillors also joined the party and the party was boosted in the late 1970s by the defection of a prominent Protestant Larne SDLP councillor, John Turnley
John Turnley
John Turnley was a Northern Irish Protestant politician and activist. Originally from a Unionist background he gradually was drawn to Irish nationalism and became a republican activist. He was assassinated in 1980.-Background:...
, later the party chairman, who was killed in 1980 in Carnlough
Carnlough
Carnlough is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It has a picturesque harbour on the shores of Carnlough Bay. Carnlough is situated on the Coast Road beside the North Channel and at the foot of Glencloy, the second of the nine Glens of Antrim...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
by an attack claimed by the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
.
The party first came to prominence by standing three candidates in the 1979 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
. Its best result came in the Mid Ulster constituency
Mid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Ulster is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons.-Boundaries:The constituency was created in 1950 when the old two-seat constituency of Fermanagh and Tyrone was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats...
where Patrick Fahy captured 12,055 votes, however the main effect was to split the Nationalist vote and prevent the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
from gaining the seat.
The IIP continued to grow as it became involved in the campaign to support prisoners in the Maze prison who were "on the blanket" and later hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
. The IIP won 21 seats on councils in the local elections of 1981
Northern Ireland local elections, 1981
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in 1981.-Overall:-Belfast:...
as a result of its involvement although this support was fairly localised with 17 of the 21 seats being won in just four councils Fermanagh, Derry, Omagh and Newry & Mourne. However for a short period of time it came to be accepted by some as a voice of Irish republicanism
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
(although a number of other groups had similar but smaller localised support, with both the People's Democracy
People's Democracy
People's Democracy was a political organisation that, while supporting the campaign for civil rights for Northern Ireland's Catholic minority, stated that such rights could only be achieved through the establishment of a socialist republic for all of Ireland...
and the Irish Republican Socialist Party
Irish Republican Socialist Party
The Irish Republican Socialist Party or IRSP is a republican socialist party active in Ireland. It claims the legacy of socialist revolutionary James Connolly, who founded the Irish Socialist Republican Party in 1896 and was executed after the Easter Rising of 1916.- History :The Irish Republican...
securing 2 seats each in Belfast at the same election).
The IIP boycotted the Assembly elections in October 1982 leaving the field clear for Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
who began standing candidates in elections in the early 1980s. As a result, the IIP lost republican support, for example in the first by-election in which Sinn Féin stood in Omagh in 1983 the IIP were only able to poll 5% in a seat that they had previously held while the Sinn Féin candidate took 60%. Meantime moderate nationalists had remained with the SDLP. The party remained active until at least 1985
Northern Ireland local elections, 1985
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland on 15 May 1985.-1981 elections:The previous elections had been fought in the middle of the hunger strike and the H-Block Prison Protest...
, when it had four councillors elected in local council elections, but appears to have been disbanded before the next local elections in 1989
Northern Ireland local elections, 1989
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in 1989.-Background:The elections took place after a turbulent period in Northern Irish politics. The signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in November 1985 had been followed by widespread protests by those in the Unionist community...
.