Ireland in the 20th Century

3rd Year History

Governing Ireland in 1900

Irish MPs and lords in Westminster Lord Lieutenant represented King Chief Secretary represented British government

Nationalists

Vast majority supported Irish Parliamentary Party (Home Rule Party). Led by John Redmond 84 of 105 seats in 1910 Home Rule meant a parliament in Dublin to deal with internal affairs Peaceful means. Had support of the Liberal Party.

IRB
Secret revolutionary organisation Responsible for 1867 Fenian Rising Complete independent Republic Supported by Irish in USA

Sinn Fin
Arthur Griffith 1905 Dual monarchy Abstentionist Tariffs to develop industry Small until after 1916

Unionists
Wanted to stay in UK. No HR. 3 reasons Felt British Home rule = Rome rule Fear of losing trade links Carson and Craig Supported by Conservatives (Empire would fall apart)

Labour Movement

Poor state of workers in Ireland James Larkin from Liverpool set up ITGWU William Martin Murphy and Employers Federation = Lockout Police, government and Catholic Church supported employers. After 5 months workers defeated ITGWU did not die

Cultural Nationalism and the Emergence of New Movements

GAA Gaelic League Irish Literary Revival

The Home Rule Bill

1910 the Liberal government needed the support of the Home Rule Party (84 seats) 1911 Liberals passed The Parliament Act. House of Lords could only delay bills for 2 years. 1912 Third Home Rule Bill became law. 1914 WW1 broke out. 1916 the Irish didnt want Home Rule

Unionist Opposition

Took different forms Demonstrations and speeches by Carson and Craig Solemn League and Covenant UVF Larne (35000 rifles) The Curragh Mutiny

Nationalist Reaction

Eoin MacNeill wrote The North Began IVF IRB involvement Howth gun running (900 rifles) Asgard WW1 stopped Civil War

REACTION TO WORLD WAR 1

Unionists joined 36th Ulster Division to show support for the union Redmonds speech at Woodenbridge split IVF Those who supported Redmond became the National Volunteers and joined the British army Those who supported MacNeill kept IVF name (IRB mainly) 250,000 Irishmen fought in WW1. 30,000 to 40,000 died

THE 1916 RISING

Plans for a Rising

IRB Englands difficulty is Irelands opportunity Military Council (Thomas Clarke, Patrick Pearse, Sean McDermott, Thomas Mac Donough, Joseph Plunkett and Eamon Ceannt) James Connolly and the Irish Citizens Army persuaded to join. Roger Casement. 20,000 rifles from Germany on the Aud. MacNeill would not take part unless they were attacked first. The Castle document was forged. MacNeill was deceived and agreed to allow the IVF take part at Easter

Plans go wrong
Aud captured and scuttled. Casement arrested and hanged. MacNeill found out the Castle Document was a forgery and called off manoeuvres on Easter Sunday

The Rising goes ahead

Military Council decided to go ahead on Easter Monday. Rising confined to Dublin and bound for military failure Pearse and the Proclamation 1500 rebels took key buildings in the city (GPO, Bolands Mills, Jacobs Factory, The Four Courts) Failure to take Dublin Castle a big mistake. British reinforcements from the Curragh and England. The Helga shelled the GPO Saturday, unconditional surrender

The Results of the Rising

500 killed, more injured, much damage Dubliners angry with rebels Martial law (2000 interned) 90 sentenced to death. 15 executed in Kilmainham Jail. Irish minds were changed. Home Rule finished. Sinn Fin got blamed and became popular. It changed its aim to an Irish Republic. DeValera became its leader.

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The Conscription Crisis Compulsory military service further boosted Sinn Feins popularity The 1918 General Election 73 seats for Sinn Fein Called their MPs Teachta Dla and refused to take seats. 1919 Dil ireann set up.

THE INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE

Sinn Fin and the First Dail

1919 Mansion House 27 TDs only, jail or on the run First meeting issued: Declaration of Independence A message to the Free Nations of the World A programme to improve living and working conditions

Sinn Fin and the First Dail

At a later meeting DeValera (rescued) elected president Collins was Minister for Finance; Markieviec (labour), Griffith (home affairs and vice-president) The Dail: Got control of Local gov. Set up their own courts Got loans

The War of Independence

Same day of First Dail, Soloheadbeg happened (Breen, Treacy and others). 2 RIC dead, stole gelignite. Early stages, RIC main target of guerrilla campaign.

The War of Independence

Collins Director of Intelligence. The Squad. 10,000 reward. Flying Columns (Tom Barry, Liam Lynch, Ernie O Malley) victories at Kilmichael and Crossbarry.

The British Response

Black and tans Auxiliaries Could not cope with guerrilla warfare and carried out reprisals (Cork, Balbriggan, burnings, beatings and murder) The Government of Ireland Act 1920

Major incidents of the War of Independence

Toms MacCurtain,s murder Terence MacSwineys 74 day hunger strike Bloody Sunday 21st of Nov 1920. 11 agents killed. 12 in Croke park (Michael Hogan). Burning of Customs House (80 of Dublin brigade gone)

Peace
People wanted peace. IRA out of ammo and short of men. Bad publicity for British Gov. Costing a lot of money DeValera and Lloyd George agreed a ceasefire.

Divisions

Pro-Treaty (Regulars or Free State Army) V Anti Treaty (Irregulars or Republicans) Both sides grabbed barracks as the British left Irregulars took 4 Courts Collins won election well. When 4 Courts Irregulars took a Regular general, Collins attacked them. He won easily with British artillary.

THE IRISH CIVIL WAR

Divisions
Pro-Treaty (Regulars or Free State Army) V Anti Treaty (Irregulars or Republicans) Both sides grabbed barracks as the British left Irregulars took 4 Courts Collins won election well. When 4 Courts Irregulars took a Regular general, Collins attacked them. He won easily with British artillary.

The Munster Republic Limerick to Waterford Collins used ships to surround Irregulars Death of Collins and Griffith August 1922 Griffith had brain haemorrhage Beal na mBlath Collins shot WT Cosgrave and Kevin O Higgins took over

Guerilla Warfare
Did not work well because:

Free State had support of most people They knew the land as well Great brutality on both sides April 1923 Liam Lynch killed. Frank Aiken and DeV called a ceasefire

Results
Death and destruction Lost leaders Bitterness Political Parties (FF, FG and Sinn Fein all have roots in Civil war)