The Irish in the west of Scotland, c.1797-1848 : trade unions, strikes and political movements
The prevailing view in Scottish historical thinking is that the Catholic Irish in Scotland during the first half of the nineteenth century did not participate in strikes, trade unions or political movements with Scottish workers. This, it has been argued, was because they were despised by the Scots because of their race and religion and because they were employed mainly as strike-breakers or low wage labour. As a result the Catholic Irish formed a separate community in Scotland and were concerned mostly with issues concerning Catholics, the Catholic Church and Ireland. This thesis is concerned with the Irish in the west of Scotland during the period from c.1797 to 1848. It discusses the role of the Catholic Irish in the campaigns for Catholic Emancipation and repeal of the British-Irish Act of Union and demonstrates that their involvement in these agitations occurred despite the objections of the Scottish Catholic clergy. The thesis examines the various movements in the region for political reform and provides evidence of Irish, including Catholic Irish, involvement. Scottish reformers welcomed this Irish participation. Moreover, when the bulk of the Catholic Irish in Glasgow, and probably elsewhere in the
Mitchell, Martin John
Catholic Irish
The Irish in the west of Scotland, c.1797-1848 : trade unions, strikes and political movements. The prevailing view in Scottish historical thinking is that the Catholic Irish in Scotland during the first half of the nineteenth century did not participate in strikes, trade unions or political movements with Scottish workers. This, it has been argued, was because they were despised by the Scots because of their race and religion and because they were employed mainly as strike-breakers or low wage labour. As a result the Catholic Irish formed a separate community in Scotland and were concerned mostly with issues concerning Catholics, the Catholic Church and Ireland. This thesis is concerned with the Irish in the west of Scotland during the period from c.1797 to 1848. It discusses the role of the Catholic Irish in the campaigns for Catholic Emancipation and repeal of the British-Irish Act of Union and demonstrates that their involvement in these agitations occurred despite the objections of the Scottish Catholic clergy. The thesis examines the various movements in the region for political reform and provides evidence of Irish, including Catholic Irish, involvement. Scottish reformers welcomed this Irish participation. Moreover, when the bulk of the Catholic Irish in Glasgow, and probably elsewhere in the
irish west_scotland trade_union strike political_movement prevail_view scottish historical think catholic irish scotland participate strike trade_union political_movement scottish worker argue scots race religion employ mainly strike low wage labour catholic irish form separate community scotland concern mostly issue_concern catholics catholic church ireland concern irish west_scotland period discus role catholic irish campaign catholic emancipation repeal british irish act union demonstrate involvement agitation occur despite objection scottish catholic clergy examines various movement region political reform provide_evidence irish include catholic irish involvement scottish reformer welcome irish participation moreover bulk catholic irish glasgow probably elsewhere