THE IRISH NATURALIST

The Irish Naturalist was an important scientific journal that was first published in April 1892. It owes its establishment to the efforts of several leading Dublin naturalists, notably G.H. Carpenter and R. M. Barrington. It was to be a medium through which naturalists could publish articles and notes about Irish natural history. It drew the majority of its authorship from the large band of naturalists that worked in Ireland at the close of the 19th century, both as amateur enthusiasts and professional scientists. It remains today as one of the most important sources for Irish natural history, and has considerably influenced present day studies in Ireland.

From the early 1800s, Ireland had become an important centre of scientific research. Various scientific institutions and societies, centred in Dublin, such as Trinity College Dublin, the Royal Irish Academy, the Royal Dublin Society and the Royal Geological Society of Ireland were forums for debate and exchange of ideas. Concurrent with the rise of science in the professional institutions, there was an increase in the fortunes of natural history. The rise coincided with the increase in leisure time largely for the middle and upper classes in Victorian Society. This led to the establishment of Field Clubs (Belfast (1863); Dublin (1886); Cork (1892); Limerick (1892)) and locally based societies and institutions. The Clubs were an important mechanism for the informal but effective education of naturalists, which was largely achieved through first-hand field studies.

The Irish Naturalist was published for 33 years and contained in total over 3000 pages, which reflect the diversity of Ireland's flora and fauna as well as its varied habitats. The journal was issued monthly and contained articles of two types. The first were major articles of 3-6 pages in length, whilst the second type were short notes of a more quirky, often humerous nature. Major articles covered the complete spectrum of natural history in Ireland: geology, geomorphology, botany, zoology, ornithology, speleology and ethnography. The many short notes were often unusual, anecdotal, and probably would not see print if submitted to modern journals. Such notes, however, add much to The Irish Naturalist and help to give it its unique character. Papers published in The Irish Naturalist brought recognition to a number of amateur naturalists, many of whom were elected members of the Royal Irish Academy.

The cover of The Irish Naturalist was very distinctive, and featured a number of well-known ‘Irish’ species: the giant Irish deer, the Kerry spotted slug, a saxifrage, and the Galway burnet moth. It first appeared in January 1894, and replaced a rather dull predecessor used for the first few years of the Journal.

Between 1900 and 1922, Irish natural history began to decline for a number of reasons, including the political uncertainties. In December 1924, The Irish Naturalist ceased publication. For a number of years preceding this date, the publishers and editors attempted to keep the journal financially solvent. Barrington had subsidised the journal for some time, but he died in 1915. The following year, one issue was delayed when the printers premises were destroyed during hostilities on Easter Monday. Annual subscriptions were raised in 1920, but the final blow was when Carpenter, an editor since the inception of the journal, left Dublin in 1922 to take up a position in Manchester.

A shortage of publishable material was not at the root of the Journal's trouble; rather more the frequency and therefore the cost of production. Almost immediately after The Irish Naturalist folded, another similar venture The Irish Naturalists' Journal was launched in Belfast in 1925.

The Irish Naturalist is one of the major sources for scientific research today and provides a valuable insight into the countryside, nature, environment and attitudes of the 1890's to 1920s. Scientists working in Ireland today cannot ignore the legacy and wealth of information that is to be found within its pages.

This article is an edited text from:

The Irish Naturalist: 33 years of natural history in Ireland 1892-1924 Patrick Wyse Jackson & Peter Wyse Jackson 1992

Irish Naturalists' Journal 24(3): 95-101

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