National League of the North
Encyclopedia
The National League of the North (NLN) was an Irish nationalist organisation active in Northern Ireland
.
The group was founded in May 1928 on the basis of a radical programme for the "National Unification of Ireland". It was in part an attempt to bring together the supporters of Joe Devlin
and Cahir Healy
, who were the leading figures in the Nationalist Party
.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1933
, in addition to supporting most Nationalist Party candidates, the group stood Gerry Lennon
in South Armagh
. He was unsuccessful, but did beat the official Nationalist. The League had become inactive by the mid-1930s.
In 1936, Paddy Maxwell
founded the Irish Union Association (IUA), aiming to revive the NLN platform. Although it gained the support of most Nationalist Party Members of Parliament, T. J. Campbell
and Richard Byrne did not join. The group failed to make an impact, and by early 1937, Healy was suggesting that the group should be allowed to fade away. In October, Maxwell proposed reinvigorating the League by holding an Ard Fheis
, but Healy opposed this, and the group was instead allowed to become moribund.
In 1938, the IUA was superseded when Éamon de Valera
founded an Anti-Partition League. The group organised a speaker tour of Britain with speakers from Fianna Fáil
and the Nationalist Party, including Healy and Anthony Mulvey
. However, the Irish Republican Army started their Sabotage Campaign, which hardened British attitudes against the cause of Irish unification, and the project was dropped with the start of World War II
.
After the disbanding of the IUA, there was no rank-and-file nationalist group in Northern Ireland until the launch of the Irish Anti-Partition League in 1945.
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...
.
The group was founded in May 1928 on the basis of a radical programme for the "National Unification of Ireland". It was in part an attempt to bring together the supporters of Joe Devlin
Joseph Devlin
Joseph Devlin, also known as Joe Devlin, was an Irish journalist and influential nationalist politician...
and Cahir Healy
Cahir Healy
Cahir Healy was an Irish politician.Born in Mountcharles in County Donegal, he became a journalist working on various local papers. He joined Sinn Féin on its foundation in 1905. He later campaigned against the inclusion of County Fermanagh and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, arguing that they...
, who were the leading figures in 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....
.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1933
Northern Ireland general election, 1933
-References:*...
, in addition to supporting most Nationalist Party candidates, the group stood Gerry Lennon
Gerry Lennon
James Gerrard Lennon , known as Gerry Lennon, was a solicitor and Irish nationalist politician.Lennon stood unsuccessfully for the National League of the North in South Armagh at the Northern Ireland general election, 1933. In 1944, he was appointed to the Senate of Northern Ireland, serving as a...
in South Armagh
South Armagh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
South Armagh was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:South Armagh was a county constituency comprising the southern part of County Armagh. It was created when the House of Commons Act 1929 introduced first-past-the-post elections throughout Northern Ireland...
. He was unsuccessful, but did beat the official Nationalist. The League had become inactive by the mid-1930s.
In 1936, Paddy Maxwell
Paddy Maxwell
Paddy Maxwell was a solicitor and a nationalist politician in Ireland.Maxwell studied at the Convent of Mercy School, the Christian Brothers' School and St Columb's College in Derry...
founded the Irish Union Association (IUA), aiming to revive the NLN platform. Although it gained the support of most Nationalist Party Members of Parliament, T. J. Campbell
Thomas Joseph Campbell
Thomas Joseph Campbell , known as T. J. Campbell, was an Irish nationalist newspaper editor, politician and judge.Brought up as a Roman Catholic in Belfast, Campbell studied at St Malachy's College and the Royal University of Ireland. In 1895, he began editing the Irish News, a local nationalist...
and Richard Byrne did not join. The group failed to make an impact, and by early 1937, Healy was suggesting that the group should be allowed to fade away. In October, Maxwell proposed reinvigorating the League by holding an Ard Fheis
Ard Fheis
Ardfheis or Ard Fheis is the name used by many Irish political parties for their annual party conference. The term was first used by Conradh na Gaeilge, the Irish language cultural organisation, for its annual convention....
, but Healy opposed this, and the group was instead allowed to become moribund.
In 1938, the IUA was superseded when Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
founded an Anti-Partition League. The group organised a speaker tour of Britain with speakers from Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
and the Nationalist Party, including Healy and Anthony Mulvey
Anthony Mulvey
Anthony Mulvey was an Irish nationalist politician.Born in County Leitrim, Mulvey edited the Ulster Herald before his election to represent Fermanagh and Tyrone for the Nationalist Party in the British House of Commons at the 1935 UK general election.Mulvey did not take his seat until 1945, and...
. However, the Irish Republican Army started their Sabotage Campaign, which hardened British attitudes against the cause of Irish unification, and the project was dropped with the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the disbanding of the IUA, there was no rank-and-file nationalist group in Northern Ireland until the launch of the Irish Anti-Partition League in 1945.