Irish Monarchism

Irish Monarchism is an ideology that believes that Ireland should be a monarchy however not in union with Britain, unlike the dual monarchy proposed by Arthur Griffith. Over its history there have been many attempts to make Ireland a monarchy.

High Kings Of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland or Ard Rí were figures who had or claimed to have Lordship over Ireland. Among some Nationalists they believed that Ireland should once again be under the rule of an Ard Rí. In 1906 Padraig Pearse writing for the newspaper An Claidheamh Soluis, saw Ireland of 100 years later as an independent Irish-speaking kingdom with an Ard Rí (High King) as the head of state.

Prince Joachim of Prussia
During the 1916 Rising, Irish Nationalists such as Padraig Pearse and Joseph Plunkett discussed that the throne to Ireland should be given to Prince Joachim of Prussia, the youngest son of Kaiser Wilhelm II. However this was never put into action as the 1916 Easter Rising failed with it's leaders executed, and Germany losing the Great War with Prince Joachim committing suicide in 1920.

Irish Monarchist Society
In the 1930's the Irish Monarchist Society was founded by Francis Stuart and Sir Osmonde Esmonde. It planned to overthrow the Irish Free State and establish an independent Irish Catholic monarchy under a member of the O'Neill dynasty.

Francis Stuart
Francis Stuart was an Australian born, Irish writer and nationalist. He was born to Irish Protestant parents in Queensland, Australia but became Catholic at the age of 17. He married Iseult Gonne, daughter of Maud Gonne an Irish Suffragette. Iseult had been proposed to by W.B Yates and also had a brief affair with Ezra Pound before meeting Francis. Both Francis and Ezra would be drawn to with Ezra being drawn to Italy under Mussolini and Francis to Nazi Germany. Francis fought on the anti-treaty side of the Irish Civil War, where he became involved with gun running for the IRA. After the Civil War, Francis became involved in Irish literature. In the 1930's Stuart became friendly with the Abwher (German Military Intelligence). Stuart travelled to Germany in April 1939 and accepted an appointment as lecturer in English and Irish literature at Berlin University. He returned home to Ireland in July but at the outbreak of the war he confirmed that he would still like to take the position. He arrived in Berlin in January 1940 and spent some time there. HE attempted to return home in 1945 but was arrested by allied troops, only able to return home in 1958 after the death of his wife. He continued as a writer, however his actions during the war would cause controversy.

Monarchy of Ireland High Kings of Ireland Padraig Pearse Prince Joachim of Prussia Proposed Irish Monarchy Francis Stuart Sir Osmond Esmonde O'Neill dynasty Irish Civil War The Irish Republican Army 1922-1969