Madam, – Recently there has been a heightened interest in politics. This has been because of the economic recession and the recent elections.
I would like to draw the attention of your readers to a political party of “yesterday”. Seventy years ago in Athenry, the Clann na Talmhan party was founded, on June 29th, 1939 (not as is sometimes stated, 1938).
Founded in the town hall Athenry (still in use), it was a “farmers’ party”. John Clancy of Co Clare named it. The English meaning is “Family of the Land”.
All parties in this State have been organised around leaders already there. Clann na Talmhan is an exception to this rule. It came from the people up. Unrest among farmers, particularly in counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, led to the formation of the party.
I will give a brief history of the party. In the 1943 general election, it won 10 seats. There were also five Independent farmer TDs. They held the balance of power. They abstained in the Dáil vote for the taoiseach. This kept Eamon de Valera in power. They held nine seats in the 1944 general election and in 1948 they entered government. Clann na Talmhan was in decline as a party at the time. It took part in the 1948-1951 Inter-Party government and Joe Blowick, their leader became Minister for Lands. Michael Donnellan was parliamentary secretary to the department of finance.
The party also took part in the 1954-1957 Inter-Party government. Because of the Civil War politics of that time, they went into decline.
There were also internal contradictors between the different farmer interests. Electorally they helped breach the single-party rule of Fianna Fáil. They also restored Fine Gael’s strength in the west of Ireland. More importantly, they affected the lives of people, while never developing into a strong farmers’ party or gaining real power in the land.
From holding office, Joe Blowick and Michael Donnellan brought changes to people’s lives. In the area of land settlement, Joe Blowick got the Land Commission going again. This helped end congestion.
They forced Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to put money into land settlement and to divide the land. Joe Blowick also oversaw a large afforestation programme. They also forced the Fianna Fáil government to pass the Drainage Act which made drainage a national charge on the exchequer.
Michael Donnellon (whose son John Donnellan went on to become a Fine Gael TD) brought the Corrib Drainage Scheme to the top priority of the government. They also worked with the then minister for agriculture, James Dillon to carry out massive land reclamation.
This party has, to a great extent, not been recognised by historians. This is because, I believe, they concentrate on constitutional and leadership issues. They overlook the effect of politics on the actual lives of people.
I think Clann na Talmhan should not be forgotten. – Yours, etc,