Clann na Talmhan (Sons of the Soil)

For a quarter of century, in the middle of the 20th century, one political party in Ireland came to prominence. Linked to farmers and those engaged in the agricultural sector, Clann na Talmhan was an Irish agrarian political party active between 1939 and 1965. Founded in Athenry, county Galway in June 1939, months before the outbreak of the Second World War, the following news of the election of a TD in April 1940 was a significant moment in the history of the fledging Irish state:

Clann na Talmhan ("Sons of the Soil"), at a convention in Galway on Saturday, unanimously selected Mr Michael Donnellan Farmer, Cloonmore, Dunmore to contest West Galway by-election. This will be the first Parliamentary election Clann na Talmhan will have contested. Mr. Donnellan returning thanks for his selection, said that national feeling was never at so low an ebb. Clann na Talmhan would extend the hand of friendship to any section who believed in the unity and independence of Ireland. They were satisfied that they would get the honest man's vote, including the support of the workers in Galway. They were the only upholders of the banner which Pearse unfurled in 1916.

Mr. Donnellan, who is chairman of County Galway branch of the organisation, is a former All-Ireland Gaelic footballer. ' He captained the Galway team against Cavan in the Senior All-Ireland final in 1933. For a period, he was a prominent supporter of Fianna Fail, but a tew years ago took an active part in the formation of Clann na Talmhan, whose annual meeting at Athenry recently was so large that it had to be held in the open air. The vacancy was created by the death of Dr. Sean Tubridy (P.P.).

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )