Thanks to reader Colin, here’s a very useful resource. It’s the Hansard record from the old Stormont Parliament, with a photocopy of the original document alongside a cut and paste-able transcript. I just inserted the term Boycott and this is what came up first:
Mr. COOPER asked the Secretary for Home Affairs whether he is aware that a criminal conspiracy exists in Enniskillen to boycott Belfast goods and all persons dealing with Belfast; that circulars, dated 10th September, 1921, have been sent to Roman Catholics threatening them with severe penalties if they continue to deal with certain houses, and that these circulars contain the names of fifteen houses on a white list (where these people are directed to deal), including Lipton, Ltd.; Enniskillen Co-operative Society, Ltd.; Tylers, Ltd.; Dicks, Ltd.; Kerr and Co.; and J. B. Dillon, and whether, seeing that there is some doubt if the firms in question are parties to this intimidation or that they have entered into this illegal conspiracy, the Secretary for Home Affairs will communicate with these firms and get from them definite statements, especially as Liptons, Tylers, and Dicks do considerable business in Belfast, England, and Scotland, that the Enniskillen Cooperative Society has a branch at Ballinamallard and is closely allied with the Scottish Co-operative Society, Ltd., and that Mr. J. B. Dillon and Mr. J. M’Govern (proprietor of Kerr and Co.) hold his Majesty’s Commission of the Peace, and that Mr. Dillon also holds an important position in the Scottish Co-operative, Ltd., or what action he will take in the matter?
In a place where populist urban (and rural) myth often stand in for verifiable fact, it has to be a good thing. But feel free to have fun and search out your own pet subjects. And cut and paste away below!!
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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