'A Man Who Has Both Arms': Arthur Griffith, the Economy and the Anglo-Irish Treaty Agreement 1921.

This article focuses on Arthur Griffith’s economic philosophy and its influence on Irish nationalism and the founding of Sinn Féin. Griffith, who founded Sinn Féin in 1905, strongly advocated for Ireland’s economic development through qualified protectionism and fiscal autonomy, viewing economic self-reliance as essential to national progress. As chairman of the Irish delegation during the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, he prioritized securing financial independence for the emerging Irish Free State, particularly through provisions allowing fiscal freedom and a fair share of the UK public debt. The article highlights Griffith’s practical efforts to promote Irish industry, banking reform, and economic education, and calls for a more nuanced academic study of his economic ideas, which have often been overshadowed by political narratives.