New stamp for Centenary of Griffith’s essays The Resurrection of Hungary: A Parallel for Ireland
November 21, 2005: A new 48c stamp marks the centenary of Arthur Griffith’s collection of 27 essays entitled The Resurrection of Hungary: A Parallel for Ireland, which formed the principles on which Sinn Féin was founded, and which came to be known as Griffith’s Policy.
Irish artist Ger Garland designed the stamp which features a portrait of Arthur Griffith against a background image of the title page of Griffith’s Policy.
Disillusionment and division characterised the political landscape in post-Famine Ireland following the death of Charles Steward Parnell and the defeat of the second Home Rule Bill in 1893. Out of this vacuum emerged a new type of nationalism which aspired to give prominence to Ireland’s cultural and literary identity and thereby earn the nation recognition as a separate cultural entity.
The Gaelic League, the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Anglo- Irish literary revival gained massive popular support as their activities re-ignited national pride, promoted self-reliance and demonstrated that Ireland had the right to become an autonomous nation. Arthur Griffith was among those whose philosophy tended toward a real manifestation of this ideal.
The new stamp and a special First Day Cover are available at the GPO, Dublin and online at www.irishstamps.ie (new window)
Contact the Press Office for further information.
