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Support for Fenianism (an Irish nationalist movement) was strong in the many New Zealand Catholic communities which had close family ties to Ireland. Catholic priests often joined in Fenian demonstrations, such as this one at Hokitika in 1868. The priest can be seen walking ahead of the banner showing the cross. By that year several Irish-born priests had been expelled from New Zealand for taking part in political meetings and demonstrations.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Reference: NON-ATL-0077
by Patrick Lysaght
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.