Happy St Patrick's Day

Once again, it is St Patrick’s Day, an occasion to honor the patron saint of Ireland who converted the Emerald Isle to Christianity and to celebrate all things Irish. Unfortunately, one of the things most associated with Ireland today is revolutionary republicanism. This should not be so. In all of Irish history, republicanism was practically unknown before the Easter Uprising and entirely unheard of prior to the horrific French Revolution. The history of old Ireland, prior to the arrival of the British, was entirely royalist. Ireland had not only one king but a number of kings at any given time, occasionally united by one “High King”. Prior to independence, the only time Ireland had known republican rule was actually the most brutally horrific period of Irish history when the republican dictator of England, Oliver Cromwell, waged what some have not without merit termed a genocide in Ireland. For Cromwell, the Irish had committed two offenses which he deemed most deplorable; they had thrown their support behind the King and they had refused to renounce their Catholicism and embrace the Protestant religion he favored.

The Irish did ultimately take the side of King Charles I, who was opposed to the persecution of Catholics like themselves and they later also supported the cause of his son King James II, adding the Battle of the Boyne to the long list of tragedies in Irish history. Later, during the Jacobite Uprisings, the Stuart heirs were also not without some Irish support. Even Sinn Fein was originally founded with the intention of Ireland being a monarchy, independent but in personal union with the British after the fashion of Austria-Hungary. Even at the time of World War I, some Irish nationalists, knowing that their cause basically depended on a German victory, proposed making the German Kaiser's son, Prince Joachim, the King of an independent Ireland. In any event, today is a proper occasion to take a look back at a few of the subjects related to Ireland covered here in the past from a perspective that is, to say the least, not mainstream when it comes to the Emerald Isle.

A Short look at the life of Irish High King Brian Boru

The Villain and Enemy of Monarchy Oliver Cromwell

The great Irish monarchist general Patrick Sarsfield

Irish Jacobites in the 1745 Uprising

When Irish Republicans tried to seize Canada

Although quite obscure, it is also worth noting that the monarchist cause is not totally absent from Ireland and one does not have to be confined entirely to Ulster in order to find it. There are a faithful few who support the restoration of the Kingdom of Ireland, some as a confederation of kingdoms under a "High King" as in the old days and some support a return of the Kingdom of Ireland in union with England and Scotland as in the more recent past.

Happy St Patrick's Day

 A happy St Patrick's Day to all from The Mad Monarchist, particularly to those few and long suffering monarchists of the Emerald Isle. May the Kingdom of Ireland be one day restored and traditional Irish culture preserved and celebrated again.

High King Brian Boru
General Patrick Sarsfield
High King Malachy the Great

Happy St Patrick's Day

A happy St Patrick's Day to one and all. In the United States it is, of course, the St Patrick's Day parade in New York which has been the biggest, best known and at times most controversial. What very few know (other than monarchists, I'm sure you all know this already) is that the first ever parade in New York City honoring St Patrick was actually held by Irish troops wearing the red coat of King George in 1766. Ireland can be a curious place for monarchists. Go up north and you will find what seems to be (and often is) the most staunchly monarchist people in the world. Their only problem is the presence in their midst of those so wrapped up in their own past rivalries that they hate their "enemies" more than they love their monarch. On the other side of the border, quite to the contrary, you will find one of the most staunchly republican populations in the world; zealous enough in their devotion to "the republic" as to rival even France and the United States. However, I've never met an Irishman who wasn't a republican yet who was not also very proud to tell me which Irish king he is descended from. Surely there was never a country so heavily populated by republicans of royal blood.

Anyway, I shall pass this day listening to some good, old, sad Irish songs, watch people on TV act like idiots in the name of a very holy saint (and a very orthodox saint too -he was not just some nature-loving proto-green party supporter). Then, perhaps we should all say a little prayer that with all the attention given to Ireland and St Patrick today, more people might just take a little concern at the fact that the country is going down the tubes. Here's an idea: the republic has not done well by you, you're not having the British back, that is perfectly clear, so why not give your own monarchy a try? An Irish High King could hardly do worse than the current republican lot and you could have someone to meet the Queen on an equal footing when she comes to visit. Yes, yes, I know, crazy talk, but what else would you expect from ... The Mad Monarchist?

A Happy St Patrick's Day to all (and my apologies if the above flag looks a little crude but I really prefer the Irish-American flag to the republican tricolor, just a matter of taste).

Those interested can view some past posts and comments concerning Ireland here.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick's Day from The Mad Monarchist