Podcast: Elections in Ireland from Catholic Emancipation to 1918

In part three of our series on elections in Ireland, from medieval times until Irish indepedence and partition. First broadcast on the Irish History Show.

We start at the politics of the mid 19th century, when the removal of restrictions on the political rights of Catholics was balanced by a restrictive property qualification.

We take the story through the reforms of Thomas Drummond to municipal government in the 1840s, to the various Representation of the People Acts which gradually extended the right to vote and the introduction of the secret bllot in 1872. We also discuss the results; the formation of mass nationlist and unionist political parties and the birth pangs of the labour movement.

The early 20th century also saw the campaign for vote for women which was finally granted in 1918.

That year also of course, saw the pivotal post war general election after which Sinn Fein declared Irish independence. We talk about this this eelction and its fallout for Ireland north and south.

Part I: From Middle ages to Penal Laws

Part II: From Treaty of Limerick to Catholic Emancipation

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