When considering primary sources for analysing social trends or movements in Ireland during the 1940s-1960s, what comes to mind? Dáil minutes, foreign policy correspondences, and newspaper articles might be some initial thoughts. However, one key primary source often overlooked is the pamphlet. These were not just short, forgettable handouts, but rather small, concise writings distributed to the public that tackled important topics for public debate, including social issues, politics, and the environment. The most striking and representative pamphlets of Irish society during the 1940s-1970s are especially those from the Catholic Church. Recently, I’ve been cataloguing a collection of pamphlets owned by Father Jeremiah Newman, a scholar born in Dromcolliher, County Limerick. After earning a postgraduate degree in philosophy and a Ph.D. in Sociology, Father Newman went on to lecture at St. Patrick’s College Maynooth, eventually becoming the college’s vice president in 1967 and Bishop of Limerick in 1974. Newman’s collection of pamphlets reflects not only his sociological background but also a surprisingly wide range of materials on communism and socialism. You’ll find everything from fiery tracts by clergy members like Denis Fahey to the works of communist heavyweights like Lenin, Mao, and Stalin.
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One book bound by Newman, labelled “Irish Communism,” includes a pamphlet written by Sean P. MacEoin titled “Communism in Ireland.” This book comprises writings on how the Catholic Church can tackle and prevent the spread of communism and the effects it would have on the nation.
“At the present moment, in Ireland, there are quite a number of organisations which openly disavow all connection with Communism and yet exist primarily to further the communist programme in this country. Under the guise of patriotism they camouflage their real motives and aims, and so entice, many genuine good-living Catholics into supporting their policy.”
( 70.A.2/1, pages 2-3)
70.A.2/1
While this perspective represents a very extreme view of the threat communism posed to the Catholic Church, it was nonetheless prevalent at the time. Newman’s collection also included writings that argued for the inevitability of communism and its potential spread to Ireland.
“Ireland will not become Communist, but it may very well slide imperceptibly and gradually into something indistinguishable from Communism- though, of course, that nasty word will be carefully avoided.”
(70.A.2/2, page xxvii)
This reading from 1935 entitled Could Ireland Become Communist is something that still rings true today. Also by reading these pamphlets we can begin to understand just how effective these were at portraying social thoughts on topics. These condensed pieces of writing were able to add from other texts while also condensing down academic material for the wider populous. For example, translating the Pope’s writings on communism in Quadragesimo Anno “No one can at the same time be a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist.” (70.A.2/2, page 137). From use of artwork to language, pamphlets can be beneficial to historians as a means to understand the way the Catholic Church approached writing and portraying social movements such as communism.
Examples of artwork in the form of cartoons and typography (70.A.2/4)
The writings which are produced within these pamphlets are also broken down into succent headings to address different aspects of communism and threat it held for the audience such as “Blood Soaked Reality”, “The Atheist Priest” and “Ireland an Anti-God State.” (70.A.2/4). For us in the present day these fears and titles may seem a bit ridiculous or as a form of propaganda, however at the time these pamphlets truly spoke to many Catholics around Ireland who held similar concerns. There are two main Catholic Organisations who also served as publishers to these informational pamphlets The Catholic Truth Society and The Sword of the Spirit. These two organisations had roots in not only the United Kingdom but also Ireland. They used these pamphlets as a means to rally people behind Catholicism while also framing communism as the main enemy of Catholicism;
“The strength of the Communist Party lies in the zeal of its members for whom no sacrifice is too great, no job too hard. Fired with enthusiasm for the teachings which are for them their religion, they put Christians and Non-Communists to shame. Their success is a measure of our failure to make the same sacrifices for a better cause, and to the extent to which we see this and act upon it shall we defeat them.”
(70.A.53/3, page 23)
While there are many things to be taken from these pamphlets on the Churches reaction to the rise of Communism, the art work included also is telling on how communism is portrayed. Strong and harsh reds are used to show the danger communism posed.
Examples of covers with the use of the colour red (70.A.53/6., 70.A.53/9, 70.A.53/4)
It is clear from studying this collection that Jeremiah Newman was very interested with the topic of Communism as well as Socialism. It is difficult to ascertain whether it was out of a place of interest because of his background as a sociologist or perhaps he was trying to gain information to use in his sermons.
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These pamphlets serve as valuable historical resources for examining cultural and societal trends and issues in Ireland. The Newman collection, housed here at UCD Special Collections, encompasses a wide array of topics gathered throughout his years. Dating back to the 1930s and continuing through the late 1960s, these pamphlets provide researchers and historians with a rich resource for understanding Irish culture during this significant period.
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This guest blog post was written by Adam Byrne, MA student UCD School of History and UCD Special Collections intern.