Learning of John Maclean’s support for Irish freedom

THE famous Red Clydesider, John Maclean, and his involvement in Ireland’s long struggle for national independence, were celebrated in a talk delivered recently in Grace’s Irish Centre hosted by the 1916 Rising Centenary Committee.

The speaker, Gerry Cairns, who was the last Secretary of the John Maclean Society, has written extensively on his subject, including a biography.

Cairns focused on Maclean’s involvement in the Irish cause, beginning with his support for the Belfast dockers in 1907. Maclean engaged with the demand for Home Rule albeit in a lukewarm fashion. He was more critical of Sir Edward Carson and his agitation for the Union as this involved some trips to Scotland to drum up some support. When the First World War came in 1914, Maclean (above) threw himself into anti-war activities, which resulted in three terms of imprisonment for sedition.

That last prison term from May to December 1918 was spent in Peterhead prison, in northeast Scotland. In jail he met Joseph Robinson, the Commandant of the Scottish Brigade of the IRA, and Barney Friel, who had fought in the 1916 Rising.

Cairns’ contention was that this changed Maclean’s outlook on Ireland and he came out of prison to begin a personal education on the political situation in the country after Sinn Féin’s sweeping victory in the December 1918 general election. This education involved a trip to Dublin for the James Connolly birthday celebrations in the summer of 1919, incessant propaganda activity highlighting the role of Scottish troops in Ireland, a pitched battle with Orangemen in Motherwell and sending guns over to assist the Republican side during the Civil War.

The talk was very well received and was followed by a lively, fraternal discussion on different aspects of Maclean’s life. This was a very successful evening with a consensus that John Maclean was a true friend of Ireland.

Once again, Grace’s proved to be an excellent venue, and the next talk took place as The Irish Voice went to press on Tuesday December 16 from 7-9pm. It focused on the Scottish radical and member of the United Irishmen, Thomas Muir of Huntershill.