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The History Sale 2015
www.adams.ie666
FIANNA [BUENOS AIRES], ED.
PADRAIC MACMANUS
Vol. 1 no. 1 – Vol. II no. 7, 1910-13, all published,
folio, nos. 1-6 stapled and bound together in
publisher’s blue buckram gilt, some pages loose,
no. 7 separately stapled, lacking upper wrapper.
The editor and proprietor was Padraic MacManus,
a leading Irish-Argentinian businessman and IRB
member, brother of the writer Seumas MacManus.
The editorial page described ‘Fianna’ as ‘An
occasional review devoted to Irish Argentine
interests’. It states that ‘It must not be understood
that we appear in opposition to any other paper
-- our only enemy, is the common enemy, our
guiding principle is nationality, alike Irish and
Argentine, and our creed toleration of every
creed except intolerance’. It includes extensive
commentary on the affairs of the Irish community
in Buenos Aires, particularly the Irish Catholic
Association, the sale of the Irish orphanage, and
the education provided there. On these issues it
evidently takes a different line to the other Irish-
Argentinian paper, ‘The Southern Cross’. The first
number also mentions ‘rumours current in certain
circles’ that ‘The Falkland Islands, as the Malvinas
are called, are to be returned to the rightful owner,
the Argentine nation’, but these rumours are
denied (with regret) elsewhere in the same issue.
General articles include one on Admiral William
Brown (translated from Spanish), ‘Ireland under
the Union’ by Alice Stopford Green, etc. Writers
of occasional poetry include F.H. O’Donnell, Nora
Hopper, Alice Furlong, ‘Conor Mac Nessa’ [the
editor], W.E.H. Lecky, Michael Doheny, Ethna
Carbery, William Rooney, Alice Milligan etc. Lady
Gregory’s ‘The Gaol Gate’ is reprinted in Vol. 1.
There are occasional articles in Spanish.
Fianna circulated mainly in and around Buenos
Aires, and in small numbers even there. Sets
are exceedingly rare. There is much interesting
material about the Irish, abroad and at home.
€400 - €600
667
ST. PATRICK AT TARA
An original mounted photographic print captioned
in Seumas MacManus’ hand, ‘Ireland’s first
Gaelic play, St. Patrick at Tara, presented
by the Gaelic League in 1894’, naming the
principal players including Cú Uladh as St.
Patrick preaching to the King, Conan Maol, and
the Princesses, Ethna Carbery and her sister
Margaret, Michael Barry as a harper, etc.,
€100 - €200
Lot 667