Cameron Smith - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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Thesis Chapters by Cameron Smith

Catholic Irish Australian activism for the political independence of Ireland, in the period from ... more Catholic Irish Australian activism for the political independence of Ireland, in the period from Federation to the Anglo-Irish treaty (1901-1921), features prominently in Irish-Australian studies. However, the critical role played by moderate Catholic Irish Australian associations in mobilising support for Irish self-rule, has regularly been accidentally underrated or overlooked. This thesis contributes to a scholarly reconsideration of their importance. Through an analysis of prior scholarship in the field, it will argue that these organisations have not received adequate attention in the historical narrative of the Irish independence movement. It contends that the role of the Catholic clergy and radical Irish nationalist organisations has been covered extensively within the historical literature, and that this has been at the expense of these societies. In order to fill this void, this study reconsiders the role of these associations in the Irish national campaign in NSW, alongside their role in championing Catholic Irish Australian interests.

This thesis focuses on the prominent role played by the NSW district of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society. It presents that this association, among others, was central in mobilising the organisational, moral and financial support of the Catholic Irish Australian community for Irish Home Rule and later self-determination. It also reviews Australian and Irish events, to contextualise this transnational movement in NSW. In addition, this thesis unpacks the role of organisations in this pivotal time in Australian history, particularly in their significance in defending the Catholic community against sectarian attack. The ‘withdrawal’ from Irish political affairs by these organisations after the conclusion of the Irish War of Independence, is also investigated to demonstrate how this marked the effective end of Irish political activism in Australia.

Catholic Irish Australian activism for the political independence of Ireland, in the period from ... more Catholic Irish Australian activism for the political independence of Ireland, in the period from Federation to the Anglo-Irish treaty (1901-1921), features prominently in Irish-Australian studies. However, the critical role played by moderate Catholic Irish Australian associations in mobilising support for Irish self-rule, has regularly been accidentally underrated or overlooked. This thesis contributes to a scholarly reconsideration of their importance. Through an analysis of prior scholarship in the field, it will argue that these organisations have not received adequate attention in the historical narrative of the Irish independence movement. It contends that the role of the Catholic clergy and radical Irish nationalist organisations has been covered extensively within the historical literature, and that this has been at the expense of these societies. In order to fill this void, this study reconsiders the role of these associations in the Irish national campaign in NSW, alongside their role in championing Catholic Irish Australian interests.

This thesis focuses on the prominent role played by the NSW district of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society. It presents that this association, among others, was central in mobilising the organisational, moral and financial support of the Catholic Irish Australian community for Irish Home Rule and later self-determination. It also reviews Australian and Irish events, to contextualise this transnational movement in NSW. In addition, this thesis unpacks the role of organisations in this pivotal time in Australian history, particularly in their significance in defending the Catholic community against sectarian attack. The ‘withdrawal’ from Irish political affairs by these organisations after the conclusion of the Irish War of Independence, is also investigated to demonstrate how this marked the effective end of Irish political activism in Australia.