| Irish:Muintir Wolfe Tone | |
 Wolfe Tone, 20 June 1763 – 19 November 1798 | |
| Abbreviation | WTS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1964 |
| Type | Irish political organisation |
| Purpose | Creation of anall Ireland republic |
| Headquarters | Dublin |
Region served | Ireland |
| Membership | By invitation |
Official language | English andIrish |
TheWolfe Tone Societies (WTS) (Irish:Muintir Wolfe Tone[1]) are an Irish republican group whose chief objective is the establishment of a 'united Irish Republic.'[1][2] It evolved from the commemorative Directories which theIRA helped set up in 1963 to mark the bicentenary of the 1763 birth ofWolfe Tone.[1][3] In 1964 the Directories were dissolved and replaced with the Wolfe Tone Society. The publication of the Wolfe Tone Society from 1965 onward was calledTuairisc.
In 1963 to celebrate the bi-centenary of Wolfe Tone's birth, Irish republicans formed the Wolfe Tone Bi-centenary Directories.[1] Due to the support shown at the commemoration, it was decided at a meeting of the Directories in Dublin, July 1964, to disband the Directories and replace them with the "Muintir Wolfe Tone", or Wolfe Tone Society.[1][4]
The WTS was opposed to the Republic of Ireland's entry into the European Economic Community and was involved with the organisation Irish Voice on Vietnam which protested the war.[5]
One of the key intellectuals who joined the societies wasRoy Johnston, ofProtestant background. He sought to encourage Protestants inNorthern Ireland to support the nationalist cause.[6]
This organisation decided that it should focus on trying to "influence cultural and political trends in the country" and using democratic means to weaken the Unionist government of Northern Ireland.[citation needed] Its main bases of strength were in Belfast and Dublin.[7]
In 1984, a Wolfe Tone Society was founded in London from the amalgamation of several London based Irish republican groups. It supportsSinn Féin,[8] and holds major meetings and republican commemorations at the Camden Irish Centre in London, which are attended by Sinn Féin members.[citation needed]
Upon its creation, the Wolfe Tone Society declared that its aim was to further the creation of a united, independent, democratic IrishRepublic as declared in the 1916Proclamation of the Irish Republic. To achieve this it would focus on trying to convince the people of Ireland to support its creation, via meetings, publications and other means.[1] To help promote its message, the organisation published a newsletter calledTuairisc.[1]
At a joint meeting of all the Wolfe Tone Societies which took place in the home of Kevin Agnew (republican solicitor) atMaghera,County Londonderry, August 1966,[9] it was proposed that a civil rights campaign be started. The IRA's Chief of StaffCathal Goulding was present and pledged support from his organisation. From this meeting another was arranged in Belfast on 29 January 1967 and theNorthern Ireland Civil Rights Association was formed.[10] The thirteen man committee which was formed included Fred Heatley and Jack Bennett from the Wolfe Tone Societies andLiam McMillan of the IRA.[10]
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