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Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies

Catholicism in the Long Nineteenth Century Lunchtime Seminar Series

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13 February 2024 - 13 February 2024

1:00PM - 2:00PM

In person -IAS Seminar Room - please note in person places are limited Online via Zoom

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The Centre for Nineteenth Century Studies is delighted to host this year’s Durham Residential Library fellows as part of the 'Catholicism in the Long Nineteenth Century' lunchtime seminar series at the IAS Seminar Room, Cosins Hall, Palace Green. Join us for the first seminar with Dr Aidan Enright on 13 February at 1pm and download the full programme to see what's coming next.

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Image credit : The Crucifixion of Our Lord with the Virgin Mary, St John and Mary Magdalene (1854), Franz von Rohden (1817-1903)

13 February Dr Aidan Enright, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University

'"A symbol of West Britonism in Ireland": the O’Conor Don and the culture and politics of liberal Catholicism and Catholic unionism, 1860 – 1906.'

AbstractA portrait of Charles Owen O'Connor

This paper uncovers the world of Charles Owen O’Conor, the O‘Conor Don (1838–1906), one of the most prominent Catholic landlords and Liberal MPs of his generation. The scion of the last high king of Ireland and one of a long line of politically active O’Conors, he was a wealthy, fair-minded landlord who served as MP for his native County Roscommon between 1860 and 1880. In parliament, he supported reforms in education, juvenile care, factory law, Sunday closing, the Irish language and landownership. However, as a loyalist, unionist and imperialist, he was out of step with the mood and aims of popular Irish nationalism, especially on the issue of home rule. Indeed, although he was a devout Catholic, proud Irishman and critic of the union, his liberal Catholic and unionist outlook ensured that he became an increasingly marginalized figure as Irish politics polarized along Catholic nationalist and Protestant unionist lines. 

 

 

 

Speakers

Dr Aidan Enright

Dr Aidan Enright, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University

Aidan is an historian of nineteenth-century Ireland and Britain with particular interests in liberal and conservative Catholicism, Catholic unionism and imperialism, and Irish, English and British Catholic identities. His award-winning first monograph explores the life of the Irish Catholic landlord, Liberal MP and unionist, Charles Owen O’Conor (1838-1906).

Download the full programme here Catholicism in the Long Nineteenth Century Seminar Series

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