Description

In January 1904, a fiery series of sermons delivered by Father John Creagh sparked a devastating economic boycott against the small, industrious Jewish population living in Limerick City. Limerick Boycott 1904: Anti-Semitism in Ireland explores the social, economic, and religious tensions that allowed this rare and disturbing outbreak of intolerance to occur in a country already struggling with its own political identity.

This gripping historical study tracks the daily reality of the boycott, the structural reactions of local civic leaders, and the heartbreaking displacement of families forced to flee the city. By drawing on Jewish community archives, contemporary press reports, and private letters, the text strips away long-standing myths to present a balanced, clear-eyed look at prejudice, institutional responsibility, and community resilience.

Critical historical takeaways from this text:

• Deep Archival Research: Pulls from genuine Jewish community records, private letters, and Edwardian-era newspaper prints.

• Socio-Economic Analysis: Investigates the deep background factors, localized anxieties, and religious fanaticism that drove the 1904 agitation.

• Definitive Resource: Widely recognized as the leading, highly objective academic textbook on minority religious history in modern Ireland.