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The Fenian tradition
In 1858 two secret organisations were set up to plan for a revolution in Ireland: they were called the Fenian Brotherhood and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). A Fenian rebellion in 1867 was easily suppressed by the British forces. After 1867 the Fenians realised there was little support for armed uprisings and instead began to help poor farmers in their fight against harsh landlords.
The Rise of Sinn Féin
In 1905 a new political party was set up, called Sinn Féin (meaning "Ourselves Alone"). It was led by Arthur Griffith. He wanted Ireland to become independent but he did not plan to achieve this by force. Instead he suggested that the Irish MPs should simply "opt out" of the British parliament and set up their own government in Dublin.
The rise of the parliamentary Nationalists 1820-1914
Daniel O'Connell wins support
O'Connell was responsible for important developments:
With thousands of Irish voters supporting him, O'Connell was able to force the British government to change the law banning Catholic MPs in 1829. O'Connell's supporters could now go on to build up a party of Irish Nationalist MPs in the British House of Commons. This was important if they were to change the Act of Union which had abolished the old Irish Parliament in 1800.
Parnell and the campaign for Home Rule
1885 Charles Stewart Parnell built up an Irish Nationalist Party. Nationalist MPs were now a big enough group to make the two British parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives, take notice of their demands.
In 1886, the leaders of the Liberal Party agreed to help Parnell and the Nationalists in their attempt to set up an Irish Parliament. They brought a "Home Rule for Ireland" Bill before the House of Commons. This was defeated twice - in 1886 and again in 1893.
John Redmond comes close to victory
Parnell's campaign for an Irish parliament was carried on after 1900 by a new leader, John Redmond. In 1912 the Liberals brought a third Home Rule bill before the House of Commons. This time the bill was passed. 1914 Irish people were set to have their own parliament again in Dublin.
The rise of Unionist opposition 1790-1914
The Ulster Unionist Party
Protestants now decided the time had come to put a stop to all ideas of an independent Irish parliament. So they set up their own political party to fight to keep Britain and Ireland united. This was the "Ulster Unionist Party".
Ulster Protestants also set up their own private army, the Ulster Volunteers.
The Irish Revolution 1914-1921
By 1914 there were serious problems in Ireland:
- The parliamentary Nationalists had been promised Home Rule by autumn 1914 but the Unionists were determined to stop Ulster being ruled by an all Ireland parliament.
- Both sides had strong support: the Nationalist Party among Ireland's Catholic voters, the Unionists among the Protestants of Ulster.
- Both sides had private armies. The Unionists had recruited 100 000 Ulster Volunteers in 1912 to fight against Home Rule. In 1913 the Nationalist Party, with the help of a group of Fenians, formed a rival army to fight for Home Rule. They were called the Irish Volunteers.
The Easter Rising
In 1916 a small group of Fenians organised a rebellion in Dublin on Easter Monday. Their leader was Patrick Pearse. They took over the General Post Office and proclaimed Ireland an independent Republic. After a week of violence Pearse surrendered. The British army, under General Maxwell, executed fifteen of the leaders without a proper trial.
The Triumph of Sinn Féin 1918
Throughout Britain and Ireland a general election was held. Irish voters had a choice of three different futures for Ireland:
1. Home Rule, but as part of the British Empire (Redmond and the Nationalist Party).
2. British rule for Ireland (Unionists).
3. Complete independence (Sinn Féin and the Revolutionary Nationalists).
The overall winners were Sinn Féin. The new Sinn Féin MPs refused to go to London. Instead they declared Ireland an independent Republic and set up their own parliament, the Dáil, in Dublin. They also set up a government, police and law courts.
The Irish Volunteers were reorganised and renamed "The Irish Republican Army" (IRA), under the leadership of Michael Collins.
The war of Irish Independence 1919-1921
In 1920 the IRA fought against British forces in Ireland.
The British government decided that the only solution was to divide Ireland into two parts:
The North
In 1920 the six most Protestant counties of Ulster were given their own parliament and their own government. This new government of Northern Ireland became known as Stormont. The new state was to stay part of the UK.
The South
The 26 counties of southern Ireland became known as the Irish Free State. This was an independent country but initially it remained part of the British Commonwealth.
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