Ribbonism, whose adherents were usually called Ribbonmen refers to the secret associations among 19th century lower class rural Irish Catholics, organised in opposition to Orangeism. The Ribbonmen's organisation was similar to that of the Whiteboys or the Defenders of earlier periods. The ideology of the Ribbonmen was nationalist, anti-British, anti-Protestant and anti-landlord. The Ribbonmen were involved in violent (and sometimes deadly) riots with the Orange Order in the north of Ireland, and elsewhere used violence to resist paying tithes to the Protestant Church of Ireland. The name is derived from a green ribbon worn as a badge in a button-hole by the members.

Ribbonists were most active between 1835 and 1855 and in the Tithe War.

See also

• History of Ireland (1801-1922)
• Whiteboys
• Defenders
• Croppy

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia.

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