National identity, religion, and Irish unionism: the rhetoric of Irish Presbyterian opposition to Home Rule in 1912

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article examines Irish Presbyterian rhetoric surrounding the opposition to Home Rule in 1912. The article demonstrates that religion provided a significant factor in mobilising Presbyterian unionists. Religious rhetoric included two distinct but intertwining strands within unionism. Presbyterians at times utilised liberal discourse, framing their opposition as an attempt to preserve religious and civil liberties, and they justified the Union because of its perceived benefits. They also drew, however, upon a religiously inspired mentality viewing themselves as a divinely chosen people with the right to occupy Ireland. The relationship between these two aspects of religious rhetoric was complex; each strand manifested more strongly at different periods, in response to contemporary events. Focusing on three separate Presbyterian events, the Presbyterian Anti-Home Rule Convention, the General Assembly, and Ulster Day, this article traces the development of Presbyterian rhetoric and the relationship between these two rhetorical strands, showing that the ‘chosen people’ religious mentality gained strength as tensions surrounding Home Rule heightened. It will close with an examination of the theoretical implications of these findings, arguing that the context of Ulster Presbyterians supports aspects of the ethno-symbolist approach to the intersection of religion and national identity.