The Radical Club was formed in Dublin, Ireland in the 1925 by

Liam O'Flaherty Liam O'Flaherty ( ; 28 August 1896 – 7 September 1984) was an Irish novelist and short-story writer, and one of the foremost socialist writers in the first part of the 20th century, writing about the common people's experience and from their ...

. The group held meetings and exhibitions, and ceased activity by 1930.

History

The Radical Club was founded by Liam O'Flaherty with a circle of artistic and literary figures in Dublin in 1925. O'Flaherty with

Cecil Ffrench Salkeld Cecil Ffrench Salkeld (9 July 1904 – 11 May 1969) was an Irish painter, printmaker, critic and writer. Early life and family Cecil Ffrench Salkeld was born in Assam, India on 9 July 1904. His parents were Henry Lyde Salkeld, a member of the I ...

sent out invitations proposing this new club and its inaugural meeting during the summer of 1925. It adopted its constitution in October 1925 with

F. R. Higgins Frederick Robert Higgins (24 April 1896 – 6 January 1941) was an Irish poet and theatre director. Early years Higgins was born on the west coast of Ireland in Foxford, which is located in County Mayo. He was the eldest son of Joseph and Anni ...

as its first chair. The group was composed of artists, poets, and writers who met weekly for conversations, meetings and other events. The Club's stated aims were "to provide a centre of intercourse for Irish intellectual workers; to encourage all forms of progressive cultural activity in Ireland; to fight for the freedom of cultural expression in Ireland; to promote solidarity among artists, writers, scientists, and all people engaged in intellectual pursuits in Ireland". In the beginning the Club was organised into 3 sections, art, literature, and social. Co-founding members with O'Flaherty included Austin Clarke,

Brinsley MacNamara John Weldon (6 September 1890 – 4 February 1963; alternatively "A. E. Weldon"), known by his pen- and stage-name Brinsley MacNamara, was an Irish writer, playwright, and the registrar of the National Gallery of Ireland. He is the author of s ...

, Padraig Ó Conaire, and

Francis Stuart Henry Francis Montgomery Stuart (29 April 19022 February 2000) was an Irish writer. He was awarded one of the highest artistic accolades in Ireland, being elected a Saoi of Aosdána, before his death in 2000. His years in Nazi Germany led to a ...

. A number of artists were also involved, including Harry Kernoff, Maurice MacGonigal, and

Patrick Tuohy Patrick Tuohy (27 February 1894 – August 1930) was an Irish portrait, narrative, and genre painter. Early life Patrick Joseph Tuohy was born in Dublin on 27 February 1894, at 77 Lower Dorset Street. His parents were the surgeon, John Jose ...

. A wider circle of artists exhibited with the Club, such as Margaret Clarke, Paul Henry,

Seán Keating Seán Keating (born John Keating, 28 September 1889 – 21 December 1977) was an Irish romantic-realist painter who painted some iconic images of the Irish War of Independence and of the early industrialization of Ireland. He spent two week ...

, May Guinness,

Norah McGuinness Norah Allison McGuinness (7 November 1901 – 22 November 1980) was an Irish painter and illustrator. Early life Norah McGuinness was born in County Londonderry. She attended life classes at Derry Technical School and from 1921 studied at ...

, Albert Power,

Nano Reid Nano, Nano-, NANO or NaNo may refer to: People * Nano (singer) (born 1988), Japanese-American J-pop singer * Nano Omar (born 1986), Swedish singer * Nano Riantiarno (born 1949), Indonesian director * Agnese Nano (born 1965), Italian actress * F ...

Oliver Sheppard Oliver Sheppard (10 April 1865 – 14 September 1941) was an Irish sculptor, most famous for his 1911 bronze statue of the mythical Cuchullain dying in battle. His work was also part of the art competitions at the 1924 Summer Olympics and the ...

, and

Jack B. Yeats Jack Butler Yeats RHA (29 August 1871 – 28 March 1957) was an Irish artist and Olympic medalist. W. B. Yeats was his brother. Butler's early style was that of an illustrator; he only began to work regularly in oils in 1906. His early pict ...

. The inaugural exhibition was opened by

W. B. Yeats William Butler Yeats (13 June 186528 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish liter ...

in May 1926 at Daniel Egan's gallery, which received mixed reviews. This gallery at 38 St Stephen's Green appears to have hosted a variety of the Club's events and exhibitions. Exhibitions were held under the name Radical Painters' Group, a subgroup of the Club of which Patrick Trench served as secretary. Desirée "Toto" Bannard-Cogley produced the Club's cabarets. Other events actively patronised by the Club members included

Irish language Irish (an Caighdeán Oifigiúil, Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic languages, Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European lang ...

classes, lectures, ceilidhe, art classes, and journalism. The Club's activities appear to have gone into decline in 1927, with some activity among the members for a period after this.

Rosamund Jacob Rosamond Jacob (13 October 1888 – 11 October 1960) was an Irish writer and political activist. She was a lifelong activist for suffragist, republican and socialist causes and a writer of fiction. Early life She was born to lapsed Quaker paren ...

recorded the activities of the Club in her diary, with her mentions of the Club ending in 1926, but events are recorded into 1927. The group does not have a recorded date of dissolution.

References

{{Authority control Irish art 1925 establishments in Ireland