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“OMNIUM GATHERUM”
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I. Introduction
Intellectuals have occupied an essential position in
modern history, exercising profound influences in political,
economic, sociocultural, and scientific fields. In his Reith
lectures on intellectuals, Edward W. Said argues:
There has been no major revolution in modern history
without intellectuals; conversely there has been no
major counterrevolutionary movement without
intellectuals. Intellectuals have been the fathers and
mothers of movements, and of course sons and
daughters, even nephews and nieces. (1996: 10-11)
Said’s comment speaks to the great import of intellectuals in
modern history, including Irish history. Since the early
nineteenth century, Irish intellectuals have played crucial parts
in shaping Ireland; they have adopted diverse stances on
matters and taken different approaches to their aims, yet have
performed similarly significant roles and their activities have
left extensive and profound impacts on Irish society.
The figure who dominated the political arena in the first
half of the nineteenth-century was Daniel O’Connell, a
barrister and advocate of Catholic sectarianism. In opposition
to the Act of Union (1800), which abolished the Dublin
Parliament and introduced direct rule from London,
O’Connell formed the Catholic Association, determined to
bring about the repeal of the Act. He organized massive
meetings across the country to promote Catholic Emancipation;
his oratorical and organizational skills and his mastery of
political theater brought some success to the campaign: in
1829, the British government made concessions to Catholic
Emancipation, and O’Connell was known afterwards as “the
Liberator.” However, in 1843, at the height of his fame,
O’Connell submitted to the British prohibition on political
meetings on account of his insistence that there be no