Banking is a risky business. The recent financial crisis of 2007/08 is still fresh in the minds of the Irish public but there is almost three centuries of banking failures in Ireland – some were unfortunate, while others were fraudulent. And like nowadays, some got away with their crimes, while others went bankrupt and some…
Introduction The Sinn Féin Bank, formally the Sinn Féin Co-operative People’s Bank was a co-operative bank in Ireland associated with Sinn Féin movement, which operated from August 1908 to October 1921. The Co-operative Bank was part of Griffith’s plan for national self-sufficiency. It was not a success, though it prepared the way for the later…
1834-36: Major Banking Expansion In Ireland The short-lived Agricultural & Commercial Bank of Ireland was founded in 1834, suspended payments in 1836 and struggled on until 1840. It was the first Joint-Stock Bank in Ireland to fail but it was not its failure (in itself) that made headlines but the manner of its failure. When…
ffrench’s Bank was probably, the most famous of the provincial private banks in Ireland and due to the frequency that they turn up at auction, they are amongst the most collectible of early Irish banknotes. The bank was founded in late 1803 by Sir Thomas ffrench and William Keary. The correct form for the surname is “double f” in lower case, i.e. ffrench. Sir…
