An engaging new biography, "Ian Paisley: Preacher, Politician, and the Man Who Shaped a New Northern Ireland", examines the life and legacy of Ian Paisley, one of the most influential and divisive figures in the history of Northern Ireland.
Written by Patrick McElvaney, a retired actuary with a deep interest in Northern Ireland’s history, this comprehensive work sheds light on Paisley’s extraordinary life. From his early days in 1926, to founding the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951, to establishing the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in 1971, the book captures the motivation of a leader whose influence spanned decades of political turbulence and societal change.
In the book title Ian Paisley is boldly described as the man who shaped a new Northern Ireland. McElvaney feels he deserves this description and the biography puts him up there with Edward Carson and James Craig as men who had a profound influence on Northern Ireland’s development. Edward Carson was instrumental in the setting up of Northern Ireland by campaigning fiercely for Ireland to remain as part of the United Kingdom. The compromise solution which lead to the partition of Ireland was not what Edward Carson wanted.
Following the setting up of Northern Ireland, James Craig became its dominant political figure and he served as Prime Minister from the inception of Northern Ireland in 1921 until his death in 1940. He saw Northern Ireland as a Protestant state with a Protestant parliament. The parliament was dominated by the Protestant aristocracy and the Protestant state provided unfavourable treatment for nationalists.
The new biography shows that Ian Paisley was of the view from the start of his political career that the Protestant state in Northern Ireland also provided unfavourable treatment for working-class protestants. The book describes how he set about bringing an end to the domination of the Ulster Unionist Party. His first target was Captain Terence O’Neill and Ian Paisley was a key player in bringing about his resignation as Prime Minister. The battle against the Ulster Unionist Party continued from the late 1960s until 2003 when the Democratic Unionist Party finally became the dominant unionist party.
Ian Paisley’s life was defined by the intertwining forces of religion and politics. A polarising yet steadfast figure, he blended uncompromising religious beliefs with a resolute political stance, particularly throughout the turmoil of the Troubles and in the years following the landmark Belfast Good Friday Agreement in 1998. McElvaney masterfully chronicles these pivotal events, unpacking the impact of Paisley’s actions on both his supporters and opponents.
“Ian Paisley’s legacy cannot be overstated. His dynamism, charisma, and commitment shaped Northern Ireland in profound ways, inspiring admiration and criticism alike,” McElvaney said. “With the 100th anniversary of his birth on the horizon, now is the time to provide a comprehensive biography covering his whole life. The only existing biography of Ian Paisley is Ed Moloney’s ‘Ian Paisley – From Demagogue to Democrat’ published in 2008.
About the Author
Patrick McElvaney is an actuary, from Granard in County Longford, who on retirement from the actuarial business resolved to pursue his interest in Northern Ireland history. With the 100th anniversary of Ian Paisley’s birth occurring in 2026 Patrick McElvaney saw the need for a complete biography of his life. Ian Paisley, Preacher, Politician and the Man Who Shaped a New Northern Ireland is his first book.
