‘Our Man’

: The History of the Protestant Associations of Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan, 1920-2016

Abstract

While there are many studies on the history of Irish Unionism and Protestantism, there has been a lack of academic study concerning the political history of the Protestant community in the border counties following partition. Many Protestant Unionists in counties Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan felt betrayed by their six county counterparts breaking the Ulster Covenant in abandoning a nine county Northern Ireland. However, the Unionist Associations of these counties evolved after the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922 and adapted to their new political environment by becoming ‘Protestant’ Associations. This paper will investigate the history of these Protestant voting blocs and Associations in the border counties, from 1920 to 2016, to understand how these Associations were established, and how they reacted to political changes during the 20th century.

These organisations were able to galvanise their respective counties’ Protestant communities into an effective voting bloc, being able to return PA candidates in general and local elections up to 2004, an intriguing achievement for local political bodies. These associations became voices for the local Protestant community, from contributing evidence to the Boundary Commission to publishing resolutions on the Second World War and threats to potentially scrap Proportional Representation in Irish elections. The research will also assess how Ulster Protestants outside Northern Ireland transitioned their identity and political attitudes in the years following partition. What was their political and social mentality, and to what degree were they different to other Southern Irish Protestants? The research will also try to understand why these Associations finally ended. Was it due to the decline of the Protestant community, a steady growing indifference towards these Associations, or gerrymandering by the Irish Government?

Date of Award	Jan 2023
Original language	English
Sponsors	Department of Education, Northern Ireland
Supervisor	Peter O'Connor (Supervisor)