D’Arcy Mac Aoidh (2018)
Brian Ó Baoill, Bealach an Doirín, Co. Ros Comáin
Thomas D’Arcy McGee was born in 1825 in Carlingford, Co. Louth, Ireland. McGee grew up hearing Dónall Ó Conaill’s calls for Irish emancipation and repeal of the ‘Acts of Union’ binding Ireland to the British crown.
When these movements seemed to soften, and enduring the horrors of the Great Famine, McGee and the Young Irelanders faction broke from the Repeal Association and attempted insurrection in Ireland. Upon its failure, under threat of capture, McGee fled to America.
Growing disillusioned with several aspects of American life, McGee arrived in Montréal in 1857. There he underwent a transformation into a staunch monarchist and an advocate for the ending of sectarianism in Canada and the formation of a new “Canadian” nationality. He also became a strong opponent of the American Fenian Brotherhood, who were conducting raids on British North America in the name of Irish independence.
McGee succeeded in achieving Canadian Confederation in 1867, but was assassinated the next year by suspected Fenian sympathizers.
“Leabhar é seo faoi dhuine de na daoine ba shuimiúla na hÉireann nuair a bhí sé páirteach i reabhlóid Éire Óg sa bhliain 1848 agus faoina shaol sna Stáit Aontaithe agus i gCeanada ina dhiaidh sin. D’iompaigh sé go hiomlán i gcoinne na réabhlóidithe Éireannach. Bhí sé ina Aire Sinsearach i gCeanada agus d’fheidhmigh sé do dian dícheallach i gcoinne na bhFiníní nuair a d’ionsaigh siad Impireacht na Breataine trí ionsaí a dhéanamh ar British North America… Ba dhuine é a bhí iontach cliste agus ábalta ach nár fhan dílis d’aon ghluaiseacht nó d’aon pháirtí polaitíochta agus a chothaigh naimhde dó féin i rith a shaoil.”
“This is a book about one of the most interesting Irish persons who took part in the Young Ireland revolution in the year 1848 and about his life in the United States and in Canada following that. He entirely turned against the Irish revolutionaries. He was a Senior Minister in Canada and he worked hard and diligently against the Fenians when they attacked the British Empire by making raids on British North America… He was a wonderfully clever person and able, but he didn’t remain loyal to any movement or any political party and he made enemies for himself throughout his life.”
Adapted from: Ó Baoill, Brian. 2018. D’Arcy Mac Aoidh. Coiscéim: Baile Átha Cliath.
