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The Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
An 'Irish National Banquet and Reunion in Douglas', reported in the Isle of Man Examiner of 20 September 1890, was the setting for an attempt to advance the cause of Home Rule for Ireland in the auspicious setting of the enviably emancipated British Island. The Irish community's first effort in the direction of union and combination for social, and possibly in the future, political purposes', a reunion of Douglas Irishmen, based on the Burns' gatherings held by the Scots residents in the town, organised by the Caledonian Society, was held in the Villiers Hotel, under the chairmanship of the Rev E. Caffrey of Barrow in Furness, owing to the serious illness of the Rector of St. Mary's and in the absence of Governor Spencer Walpole and Mr. Cowell, MHK, who were both unable to attend. The main speaker, MP for Leitrim, and a member of the Irish Parliamentary party, Michael Conway spoke of the drive for Home Rule for Ireland under the leadership of Parnell and in conjunction with Gladstone by which they hoped to obtain the powers similar to the Isle of Man, yet also similarly retaining close ties with the Monarchy and indeed Great Britain. \u201cWhat the Irish people demanded was no more than the Manx people enjoyed, and what was good for the Manxmen would be equally good for Irishmen.' In concluding, he appealed for the support of everyone in the room for the position which he had taken up, 'They knew, of course, that the Manx people could only give sympathy, but those that were of blood relationship to themselves could do more than give sentimental support - they could give practical support by forming a branch of the National League in the Island. Manxmen could show their practical sympathy by joining also. The commitment of the Manx on the question of active help for the Home Rule party was not to be tested, because of the breaking of the news of Parnell's adultery with Mrs. O'Shea in the following November which effectively ended his alliance with the English Liberals and the hope of an Irish settlement.
This was perhaps opportune, at least, for the continuance of the settled relations of Catholics and Protestants on the Island because the absence of any Manx officials and politicians at the Banquet, and the general timidity of the approach of Manx politicians to their relationship with the Home Office, did not augur well for the possiblilty of positive support being given to the Irish on the subject of Home Rule.
Sources Records: M.N.H.L., Isle of Man newspapers. 1890
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