December 1st, 1890
The Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) debates that took place in 1890. The six days of intense debates within the party ultimately led to a split, with a majority of members opposing Charles Stewart Parnell, who was the leader of the IPP at the time.
Charles Stewart Parnell, a prominent Irish nationalist leader, had been involved in advocating for Irish Home Rule—the idea of self-governance for Ireland within the United Kingdom. However, Parnell’s personal life became a source of controversy and scandal when details of his relationship with Katherine O’Shea, a married woman, were revealed.
The controversy surrounding Parnell’s personal life led to divisions within the Irish Parliamentary Party. The debates in 1890 centered around whether Parnell should continue as the leader of the party. A majority of party members, including influential figures like John Redmond, opposed Parnell, leading to a split.
This split had significant consequences for Irish politics. The anti-Parnellite faction formed a new party, the Irish National Federation, while Parnell continued to lead a diminished IPP until his death in 1891. The divisions weakened the overall Irish nationalist movement for a time but set the stage for future developments in Irish politics, including the resurgence of the Irish Parliamentary Party under John Redmond in the early 20th century.
