A British Spy at James’s Gate

As the countdown to ‘Arthur’s Day’ continues, we take a look at the man that Diageo would like us to celebrate.

‘The Union Star’ was a militantly republican newspaper published by the United Irishmen in Dublin. The paper specialised in publishing the details of British spies, informers and other traitors operating in the capital.

Included in one recently unearthed edition from 1798, is the following very interesting entry:

 

‘Guinness- a brewer at James’s- gate, an active spy. United Irishmen will be cautious of dealing with any publican that sells his drink.’

 

The United Irishmen had reason to believe that Arthur Guinness, the ‘land agent’ come famous brewer, was a British spy. They further warned that republicans should be wary of any publican that did business with him, knowing that an informers work could be made much easier by 'pub talk' and the consumption of alcohol.

While we may never know exactly what role Arthur Guinness played on behalf of the British State in Ireland, we do know that the Guinness family have long been pro- British Loyalists, what would later become known as ‘Irish Unionists’. We also know that Arthur Guinness was ‘directly opposed to any movement towards Irish Independence’.

 It has always been known that he was hostile to the radical and progressive vision of the United Irishmen, and that openly he condemned the 1798 Rebellion. It now appears that not only was he opposed to Irish independence, he was actively working against it, gathering information on Dublin based revolutionaries on behalf of the British administration.

So if your raising a glass to Arthur this September 26, remember you will be toasting a man that the United Irishmen believed was an active British spy, who worked to undermine any possibility of Irish Independence.

To Arthur?

 I don’t think so.