The Dublin Conference
The Premiers, the Secretary of Premiers of Ireland. *sorry but I couldn't find a proper picture to fit the conference. **this picture is from google. about the solvay conference or something..
January 1, 1836 - Parliament of the colony of Leinster
'I had a dream last night, says the Premier of the colony of Leinster Arnes Parkes,
that all of Ireland unite under one banner, one nation, Federation.' says Park while in the Chamber of representatives in Dublin.
'One Banner, One Nation?' yells Edward Bertann, the Opposition leader of the Leinster Parliament.
'Am I hearing talk of revolution, Mr Parkes?' says Bertann.
'No you poor old man, I am talking about one nation, one banner under the British Empire.' replies the Premier Parkes.
Days after this discussion, the Premier Arnes Parkes quickly dispatched messages to the 3 other Premiers of the colonies of Ireland. In that message he proposed that all Premiers in all of the colonies of Ireland come together to a conference in the Government House in Dublin.
'My Honourable Premiers, says Parkes,
I stand here before you to announce my intention of a united Ireland under the British Empire.' says Arnes Parkes.
'What is it you would like to propose Mr Parkes? says the Honourable Premier of Ulster John McMannus.
'I would like to propose a central government for all of Ireland, I would like to see a united Ireland under one central government and the British Empire.' retorted Mr Parkes.
'This is a laughable attempt, Mr Parkes, no?' says McMannus.
'you aren't just proposing new rail regulations, but you are proposing that we, as premiers, have to give our powers to a Central Government?' McMannus added.
'Mr Parkes proposal mightn't be a bad idea' says the Premier of Munster Dr Edward Burns.
'I too, would like to see a united Ireland independent of British control' added Burns.
'I also do not think it is such a bad idea' says the Premier of Connaught Edmund O'Leary.
'Is it not for Irish to decide Ireland's fate? Surely, power should be given to fellow Irish than power to London.' added O'Leary.
'Well then I propose that we should put it to a referendum, if the people of Ireland would like a united, indissoluble Federation under the British Empire?' says Parkes.
'Not so fast!' says McMannus,
I do not want this and I will not give it a second thought.' says the reluctant McMannus.
'Well then don't!' yells the Premiers.
Days later, the colonial officerin London sent a message to the Premier of Ulster saying that if Ulster did not join the Irish Federation, the British government would create a new Colony, it would be the colony of Ulster but without Belfast to be united under a Federated Ireland.
'Fine, I would rather have my British blood under British control than be controlled by a bunch of corrupt Irish in Dublin.' says McMannus sitting in his office in Belfast.
While McMannus was talking Federation down in Belfast, the Premiers Park, Burns, O'Leary and the new Londonderry colony Premier Ron O'Malley put the Federation issue to the vote.
The Colony of Leinster - 59.9% said Yes.
The Colony of Munster - 60.4% said Yes.
The Colony of Londonderry - 80.5% said Yes.
The Colony of Connaught - 52.4% said Yes.
*surprising that the colony of Londonderry had an 80% Yes vote considerint it had a significant British population. Maybe it was just McMannus?
The Londonderry Conference
With the success of the Federation issue in the polls, the Leinster premier Arnes Parkes proposed for a meeting of all Irish premiers in Ireland (excl Belfast) to draw up a Constitution of the Federation of Ireland.
In this conference the Premiers decided that it would be the Federal Government's duty to:
1. Provide defence for Ireland
2. Immigration
3. Intra-State Matters
4. Economic Matters
5. Education
6. Taxes, Budget
7. Police Force
8. Foreign Policy
9. Health Care
10. Elections
And the rest to the States.
Days after the Londonderry Conference the Premiers of Ireland drew up the constitution of the Federation of Ireland, Arnes Parkes quickly sent the proposal to the British parliament for ratification as the Act of Ireland 1836.
Luckily, the UK parliament was led by a liberal Prime Minister who had support for the Irish federation movement and was quickly passed to the House of Lords and then to the Queen Victoria and official ratiication of what was known as the Act of Ireland 1836.
The Act was to be in effect on the 1st of June 1836.
