Clann na Talmhan

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Clann na Talmhan (literally meaning "Offspring of the Land") was an Irish political party.

Clann na Talmhan was founded in 1938 in Athenry, County Galway, its chief aim being to give a parliamentary voice to the farmers of Ireland. The party's other objectives included the promotion of the interests of small farmers, call for government support for land reclamation, lowering of taxes on farmlands and more intensive afforestation. The party was founded and led by Galwayman Michael Donnellan.

Clann na Talmhan first entered national politics when it contested the 1943 General Election. On that occasion the party won 14 seats; however this was reduced to 11 the following year. Donnellan resigned as leader following the election and was replaced by Joseph Blowick. The party became a prominent member of the first inter-party government (1948–1951), with Blowick serving as Minister for Lands and Donnellan becoming a Parliamentary Secretary. The party also went on to become a component of the second inter-party government, with both Blowick and Donnellan reprising their ministerial roles.

The party began to lose its position after being in government, as people again began to vote for the main parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Essentially Clann na Talmhan never saw itself as more than a sectional or regional organisation, and made little effort to expand beyond its Western and Southern base. By 1961, Donnellan and Blowick were the only party TDs remaining, and the party in effect ceased to exist. When Donnellan died in 1964, his son ran, and was elected for Fine Gael. Blowick decided not to contest the 1965 General Election, and the nominal existence of the party came to an end.

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[edit] Related Studies

Maurice Fitzgerald, 2000. “Ireland's European Integration, 1957 to 1966.” In Protectionism to Liberalization: Ireland and the EEC, 1957 to 1966. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. Open Access Copy

Defunct Political Parties in Ireland

To 1918: