no Parnel scandal

WI Captain O'Shea died by accident or illness. a year later Charles Stuart Parnel marries the woman he loves.

How much difference does a united Irish party make?
 
Quite a lot, the pressure for Home Rule was diverted for about a decade and a half by the split between the Parnellites and anti-Parnellites. Sectarian tensions not as high without an instance of blatant direct political interference by the Catholic church. Thomas Nulty (Bishop of Meath and friend of Parnell's) would not have had to disassociate himself following the scandal. Redmond would not have had to rebuild the IPP as a political force. Ulster opposition to Home Rule would probably still have surfaced (Ulster manufacturing had strong commercial ties with the British Empire) but might have been less violent and sectarian. Probably, as the unquestioned leader of an established party, Parnell wouldn't have caught a chill out campaigning in the wind and rain and might have lived a bit longer (though I think he had a diseased liver as well as pneumonia). Still, probably good for another six or seven years, say until 1900.
 
Well for starts there won't be a split between the INF and the Pro-Parnellites. Really post 1886 Parnell was in a flux, barely going back to Ireland - the Tories+LUs were dominant, he really could only make headway under a Liberal Govt. If he lives long enough then the 2nd HR Bill might do slightly better, but the HOLs will still block it. Overall it could be interesting down the line with the IPP not imploding as quickly and maybe surviving a bit longer than OTL. Though this could lead to more fear among Unionists in Ulster, who could cut away at his seats up there (which could mean no Russellite Unionists, perhaps?)
 
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