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History
The term has its origins in 19th century Ireland, and the term has evolved over the years. Nationalist leader Daniel O'Connell used it in the British House of Commons in 1832:
- "The people of Ireland are ready to become a portion of the Empire, provided they be made so in reality and not in name alone; they are ready to become a kind of West Briton if made so in benefits and justice; but if not, we are Irishmen again."
The term came to prominence in the land struggle of the 1880s. D. P. Moran, who founded The Leader in 1900, used the term frequently to describe those who he did not consider sufficiently Irish. It was a synonym with those he described as "Sourfaces", who mourned the death of the British Queen Victoria[2] It included virtually all Church of Ireland Protestants and those Catholics who did not measure up to his definition of "Irish Irelanders".[3]
In the early years of the Irish Free State, the term was used by some to indicate those who were deemed to have a subservient attitude towards the United Kingdom and to be afraid to cut ties with what had become a foreign country.citation needed The term was applied mainly to Roman Catholics, as Protestants were expected by such to be naturally Unionist.
Contemporary usage
"West Briton" is today used by some Irish people to criticise others for a variety of perceived faults:
- taking a view of Irish history which highlights perceived positive aspects of British influence in Ireland, or criticizing Irish nationalist rebellions
- cultural cringe: following British popular culture, while appearing embarrassed by or disdainful of aspects of Irish culture, such as the Irish language or Gaelic games
- opposition or indifference to a United Ireland or militant Irish Republicanism
- Support (or alleged support) for neo-Unionism
Nationalist former politician Kevin Boland described the Fine Gael party as such in his 1984 book Fine Gael: British or Irish.[4]need quote
Similar epithets
Castle Catholic was applied more specifically by purist Republicans to middle-class Catholics assimilated into the pro-British establishment, after Dublin Castle, the centre of the British administration. Sometimes the exaggerated pronunciation spelling Cawtholic is used to suggest an accent imitative of British Received Pronunciation.
The old-fashioned word shoneen (from Irish: seoinín, diminutive of Seán) was applied to someone who affected the habits of the British ascendancy. P. W. Joyce's English As We Speak It In Ireland defines it as "a gentleman in a small way: a would-be gentleman who puts on superior airs."[5]
The term is sometimes contrasted with Little Irelander, a derogatory term for an Irish person who is seen as excessively nationalistic, Anglophobic and xenophobic, sometimes also practicing a strongly conservative form of Roman Catholicism. This term was popularised by Sean O'Faolain [6] .
See also
References
- ^ "West Brit" from World Wide Words
- ^ D.P. Moran and the leader: writing an Irish Ireland through partition
- ^ D.P. Moran and the leader: writing an Irish Ireland through partition | Eire-Ireland:Journal of Irish Studies | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ Boland, Kevin (1984). Fine Gael: British or Irish. Mercier Press.
- ^ English As We Speak It In Ireland: Rabble to Yoke page 321.
- ^ See "Sean O'Faolain's Irish Vision" By Richard Bonaccorso,SUNY Press,1987, pg. 29
