Ireland and the Anti Slavery Movement

From the 1790s onwards numerous Black anti-slavery activists visited Ireland to build support for the abolition of the slave trade and slavery itself. This would see some of the most famous African Americans in history including Frederick Douglas visit Ireland. I was delighted to interview Christine Kinealy, one of the leading historians of 19th century Ireland, for this episode. She discusses three activists. Alongside Frederick Douglas she also talks about the lives of Equiano Olaudah and Sarah Parker Remond and their experiences in Ireland.

While Christine talks about these activists featured in her new book called ‘Black Abolitionists in Ireland’, in this wide-ranging interview she also discusses the support for anti slavery movements in Ireland in the 1790s, how former slaves were treated in Ireland and also the tensions that emerged between Irish emigrants in the US and people back in Ireland over the issue of slavery. 

Sound by Jason Looney

Next Friday Christine is organising a virtual tour for Culture Night. This free online event retraces the steps of Frederick Douglas and the time he spent in Dublin. Book your ticket https://culturenight.ie/event/irelands-great-hunger-institute-at-quinnipiac-university/

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