Alexis de Tocqueville in Ireland - An Irishman's Diary

I have just written an Irishman's Diary in the Irish Times about the French political thinker, politician and historian, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), who visited Ireland in 1835. In a six week period between July and August 1835, he traveled over 600 miles and visited several counties including Dublin, Carlow, Waterford, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry, Clare and Mayo. Read the article here.

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859). Image source.

Tocqueville is known to us today for his important, ground-breaking examination of politics in the United States of America, Democracy in America, but his lesser known writings on Ireland are also worth examining. His first hand account of what he witnessed on his travels around Ireland and of his conversations with all classes of Irish people makes for very interesting reading. An English language translation of Tocqueville's writings on Ireland was published in 1990 - Alexis de Tocqueville's Journey in Ireland, July-August 1835, trans. by Emmet Larkin (Washington D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1990).

Ireland was a very interesting destination for European visitors in the early 19th century. They were fascinated by the difference between Ireland and her near neighbour, England, in terms of economy, politics and religion. Tocqueville intended to write a book about Ireland, but it was his friend and travelling companion, Gustave de Beaumont, who later wrote a book about Ireland.