Rev. Canon James Owen Hannay, X.A. D. Litt. 'George A. Birmingham* An Irishman looks at his world

The subject of this thesis is Rev, Canon James Owen Hannay, George A, Birmingham, and his Irish experience, a period which spans over fifty years, 1865-1921, The main focus of this work is a biographical treatment of Hannay's work as a Church of Ireland minister, in particular, his involvement with the Gaelic League, his support of Sinn Fein, the Irish Agriculture Organisation Society, Home Rule, and many other issues and organisations which worked towards the regeneration and reconciliation of class and creed in Ireland during the first two decades of the twentieth century. He was a participant, in, and an observer of Ireland in an era of hope, renewal, and growth. However, he also witnessed Ireland in a time of revolution and war, bitterness and hatred. Hannay recorded these observations which provide the historian with valuable primary source material for contemporary Ireland, At the time of his death, in 1950, he had published, as George A. Birmingham, over sixty novels and books of short stories, In addition there were numerous volumes of essays, reminisciences, travel, general knowledge, theological and biblical works, studies of Irish people and Irish life, Over four hundred articles from Hannay's pen, published in the Irish, English, and American press, are recorded in the catalogue of his papers in Trinity College, Dublin, and this is by no means complete, Hannay was also well known as a lecturer and public speaker. The aim of this study is to examine historically Hannay's experiences while living in Ireland, and his account of those experiences, to provide some insights, through his writings, into contemporary Ireland, and to explore Hannay's disenchantment with the issues and organisations he had passionately believed in , resulting, ultimately in his estrangement from Ireland. As this work deals with his Irish experience, the second part of his life, spent outside Ireland, and the work that, he published in this period, are dealt with only briefly