Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence, 1912-1925

'Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence builds to a real crescendo as Robert McLaughlin reveals the parallel struggles over Irish self-determination happening in Canada and in Ireland through to the end of the Irish Civil War. McLaughlin's research is highly original, demonstrating the extensive role played by Canadians in this fascinating episode of Ireland's history. As the popularity of comparative history continues to rise rapidly, Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence will prove a convincing and significant contribution to the field.' -- D'Arcy Ryan, Department of History, Bishop's University

Robert McLaughlin finds new interpretations of how Orange Canadian unionists and Irish Canadian nationalists viewed their heritage, their membership in the British Empire, and even Canadian citizenship itself.

Between 1912 and 1925, Ireland convulsed with political and revolutionary upheaval in pursuit of self-government. Canadians of Irish descent, both Catholic and Protestant, diligently followed these conflicts, and many became actively involved in the dramatic events overseas.
Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence tells the unique story of how Irish Canadians identified with their ancestral homeland during this revolutionary era. Drawing on ethnic weekly newspapers and fraternal society records, Robert McLaughlin finds new interpretations of how Orange Canadian unionists and Irish Canadian nationalists viewed their heritage, their membership in the British Empire, and even Canadian citizenship itself.
McLaughlin also provides strong evidence that neither time nor distance diminished Irish Canadians' attachment to their familial homeland or their identification with their respective ethnic communities in Ireland. Irish Canadian Conflict and the Struggle for Irish Independence reconsiders existing contextual frameworks and confronts the challenging questions inherent in understanding this period.