The Nation (Irish Newspaper) - Background

Background

The founders of "The Nation" were three young men, two of whom were Catholics and one a Protestant, who according to T. F. O'Sullivan, were all "free from the slightest taint of bigotry, and were anxious to unite all creeds and classes for the country's welfare.". They were Charles Gavan Duffy, who became editor; Thomas Osborne Davis, and John Blake Dillon. All three were members of Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association, and would later become to be known as Young Ireland.The name suggested by Duffy for the paper was "The National" but Davis disagreed, suggesting "that the use of an adjective for such a purpose was contrary to the analogies of the English language," and suggested "The Nation." This they all agreed to. "We desired to make Ireland a nation," Duffy wrote, "and the name would be a fitting prelude to the attempt.". In due course and after many other consultations between the founders, the following announcement was made as to the date of publication, the name of the journal, and the contributors:.

On the first Saturday in October will be published the first number of a; DUBLIN WEEKLY JOURNAL TO BE CALLED "THE NATION," for which the services of the most eminent political writers in the country have been secured. It will he edited by Charles Gavan Duffy, Editor of The Vindicator, aided by the, following distinguished contributors:— JOHN O'CONNELL, ESQ., M.P.; Thomas Osborne Davis, Esq., Barrister-at-Law; W. J. O'Neill Daunt, Esq., Author of The Green Book., John B. Dillon, Esq., Barrister-at-Law Clarence Mangan, Esq., Author of Anthologia Germanica and Litterae Orientales; The Late Editor of the London Magazine and Charivari, J. C. Fitzgerald, Editor of The True Sun, And others whose 'names we are not at liberty to publish.". (For some reason, the paper did not appear until the second Saturday (15th) of October, 1842.)