Dear List,

I'm currently writing a paper for an international conference on Irish publicans and nationalism.  I'm interested to learn of any references or current research on publicans and nationalist movements.  

Publicans in Ireland were very well-represented in local government and in Parliament.  Prior to the Land War in Ireland, publicans took a rather conservative stance in regard to nationalist politics.   The situation seems to have changed around 1880, with publicans taking advantage of unrest in the countryside to expand their trade association by offering protection  to vulnerable publicans in the west of Ireland.  Publicans also "looked to the examples of th Land League" and their organizing tactics and adopted much of its nationalist rhetoric of resistance.  

Any suggestions would be helpful.  

Bradley Kadel
History Department
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa