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Irish Metropolitan Conservative Society

The Irish Metropolitan Conservative Society was an Irish political movement based in Dublin which was linked to the Irish Conservatives, the main political party in Ireland until 1859.

The Irish Metropolitan Conservative Society was formed in 1836 by the Reverend Charles Boyton and Isaac Butt and was based heavily on leadership from staff in Trinity College Dublin, and the Dublin University Magazine founded by Butt.

In a 1840 debate it famously voted to the Repeal political campaign of the leader of Irish nationalism, Daniel O'Connell, though for different reasons. While O'Connell believed that repeal of the Act of Union would see the emergence of an Irish nationalist-dominated parliament, the IMCS members saw the return of the King, Lords and Commons of Ireland as offering the best way to ensure the power and influence of the ascendancy. Butt was the main speaker in opposition to the motion.

MNCS founder Isaac Butt, along with other Tories in 1870 later founded the Home Government Association to campaign for Irish home rule.

Sources

• W.J. McCormack, From Burke to Beckett : Ascendancy, Tradition and Betrayal in Literary History (Cork University Press, 1994/2004) ISBN 0-902561-94-4