Ribbonism, whose supporters were usually called Ribbonmen, was a 19th-century popular movement of poor Catholics in Ireland. The movement was also known as Ribandism. The Ribbonmen were active against landlords and their agents, and opposed "Orangeism", the ideology of the Protestant Orange Order.
The Ribbon Society was principally an agrarian secret society, whose members consisted of rural Irish Catholics.[1] The society was formed in response to the miserable conditions in which the vast majority of tenant farmers and rural workers lived in the early 19th century in Ireland. Its objective was to prevent landlords from changing or evicting their tenants. Ribbonmen also attacked tithe and process servers, and later evolved the policy of Tenants' Rights.[2] The existence of "ribandmen" was recorded as early as 1817.[3] The name is derived from a green ribbon worn as a badge in a button-hole by the members.[4]
Depending on the district, the society was variously known as the Fraternal Society, the Patriotic Association or the Sons of the Shamrock. The Ribbonmen's organisation was similar to that of the Whiteboys or the Defenders of earlier periods. They were organised in lodges, and during the 1820s were in contact with certain organisations of Radicals in England.[2]
The ideology of the Ribbonmen supported the Catholic Association and the political separation of Ireland from Great Britain, and the rights of the tenant as against those of the landlord.[5] The Ribbonmen were involved in violent (and sometimes deadly) riots with the Orange Order in the north of Ireland, and elsewhere used violence to resist paying tithes to the Protestant Church of Ireland.[5] As the agitation for Catholic Emancipation grew, the tension between Ribbonism and Orangeism increased.
Historians disagree over the extent to which Ribbonism was an organised network of conspirators, as opposed to unrelated local groups whose similar actions were not coordinated.[6] A.C. Murray suggests that any unsolved agrarian crimes after the Whiteboys and before the Land League were conveniently blamed on Ribbonism, with the 1871 report of the select committee into disturbances in County Westmeath being a case in point.[6][7]
^ abFrazier, Adrian (2000), George Moore, 1852–1933, New Haven: Yale University Press, pp. 604, ISBN0-300-08245-2
^ abMurray, A.C. (1986). "Agrarian Violence and Nationalism in Nineteenth-Century Ireland: the Myth of Ribbonism". Irish Economic and Social History. 13: 56–73. doi:10.1177/033248938601300103. JSTOR 24337381. S2CID 157628746.
^Select Committee on State of Westmeath, and Nature of certain Unlawful Combinations (31 March 1871). Report, together with Proceedings, Minutes, and Appendix. Sessional papers. Vol. HC 13 147.
Trench, William Steuart, Realities of Irish Life, 1868 contains his experiences with Ribbonism and Ribbonmen
May 04, 2023
ribbonism, whose, supporters, were, usually, called, ribbonmen, 19th, century, popular, movement, poor, catholics, ireland, movement, also, known, ribandism, ribbonmen, were, active, against, landlords, their, agents, opposed, orangeism, ideology, protestant, . Ribbonism whose supporters were usually called Ribbonmen was a 19th century popular movement of poor Catholics in Ireland The movement was also known as Ribandism The Ribbonmen were active against landlords and their agents and opposed Orangeism the ideology of the Protestant Orange Order Ribbon society meeting in 1851 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe Ribbon Society was principally an agrarian secret society whose members consisted of rural Irish Catholics 1 The society was formed in response to the miserable conditions in which the vast majority of tenant farmers and rural workers lived in the early 19th century in Ireland Its objective was to prevent landlords from changing or evicting their tenants Ribbonmen also attacked tithe and process servers and later evolved the policy of Tenants Rights 2 The existence of ribandmen was recorded as early as 1817 3 The name is derived from a green ribbon worn as a badge in a button hole by the members 4 Depending on the district the society was variously known as the Fraternal Society the Patriotic Association or the Sons of the Shamrock The Ribbonmen s organisation was similar to that of the Whiteboys or the Defenders of earlier periods They were organised in lodges and during the 1820s were in contact with certain organisations of Radicals in England 2 The ideology of the Ribbonmen supported the Catholic Association and the political separation of Ireland from Great Britain and the rights of the tenant as against those of the landlord 5 The Ribbonmen were involved in violent and sometimes deadly riots with the Orange Order in the north of Ireland and elsewhere used violence to resist paying tithes to the Protestant Church of Ireland 5 As the agitation for Catholic Emancipation grew the tension between Ribbonism and Orangeism increased Historians disagree over the extent to which Ribbonism was an organised network of conspirators as opposed to unrelated local groups whose similar actions were not coordinated 6 A C Murray suggests that any unsolved agrarian crimes after the Whiteboys and before the Land League were conveniently blamed on Ribbonism with the 1871 report of the select committee into disturbances in County Westmeath being a case in point 6 7 See also EditHistory of Ireland 1801 1922 Whiteboys Captain Rock Defenders Croppy Ancient Order of Hibernians Bathurst rebellionReferences Edit Robert Kee The Green Flag 1972 p 299 a b H B C Pollard Secret Societies of Ireland Their Rise and Progress 2003 pp 34 37 The Times 16 April 1817 Ireland From the Dublin Evening Post Lifford Assizes Wood Rev James ed 1907 The Nuttall Encyclopaedia a b Frazier Adrian 2000 George Moore 1852 1933 New Haven Yale University Press pp 604 ISBN 0 300 08245 2 a b Murray A C 1986 Agrarian Violence and Nationalism in Nineteenth Century Ireland the Myth of Ribbonism Irish Economic and Social History 13 56 73 doi 10 1177 033248938601300103 JSTOR 24337381 S2CID 157628746 Select Committee on State of Westmeath and Nature of certain Unlawful Combinations 31 March 1871 Report together with Proceedings Minutes and Appendix Sessional papers Vol HC 13 147 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Wood James ed 1907 Ribbonism The Nuttall Encyclopaedia London and New York Frederick Warne External links EditTrench William Steuart Realities of Irish Life 1868 contains his experiences with Ribbonism and Ribbonmen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ribbonism amp oldid 1145140894, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
