Society of United Irishmen 1798 Rebellion www historyvault

Society of United Irishmen & 1798 Rebellion www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Ireland in the 18 th Century: Protestant Ascendancy Grattan’s Parliament The Penal Laws • Up to 1770, the Penal Laws had severely oppressed the Catholic majority population of Ireland • After 1770, Catholics still had to pay tithes (one-tenth of their incomes) to support the Anglican clergy • Only Protestants could sit in the Irish Parliament (Grattan’s Paliament) • Protestant ‘dissenters’ (Presbyterians) were also oppressed similar to Catholics. • Most Irish people were either poor rural labourers or farm tenants. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Land Ownership In Ireland (1790): The Protestant Ascendancy Native Irish Landownership (1641) Land, Law & Politics • In 1641 (map), Irish natives were already beginning to lose land ownership, especially in Ulster and East Leinster (due to the Plantations). • By the end of the 18 th Century, the Catholic Irish majority would own less than 10% of all land in Ireland, even though they constituted over 90% of the population. • Similarly, Protestants (who only made up just less than 10% of the population) would own over 90% of the land in Ireland. • Together with the severe anti-Catholic laws & the Protestant-only parliament, this is how Protestants in Ireland came to be known as the ‘Protestant Ascendancy’. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The American & French Revolutions: Cause for Hope? • The events and outcomes of both the American & French revolutions showed that armed rebellion could bring about enormous social & political change. • The principles of the Enlightenment and the motto of ‘Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite’ inspired many in Ireland to consider a revolt. • Revolutionary France also promised to send help to any country fighting oppression from monarchies. • Catholics in Ireland lived under incredible restrictions and overwhelming oppression, far greater than the colonists in America or the people of France under the ‘Ancien Regime’. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Society of United Irishmen www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Theobald Wolfe Tone 1763 -1798 • Born in Dublin to a Protestant family • While studying Law at Trinity College in Dublin, he became very interested in politics. • Married Matilda Witherington • Supporter of French Revolution • Wrote ‘An Argument on Behalf of Catholics in Ireland’ in which he advocated equality between Catholics & Protestants and complete independence from England, by force, if necessary. • Set up the Society of United Irishmen in October 1791. Initially only Protestants joined but more Catholics began to join as more branches opened up around Ireland. • When the Society was banned, Tone travelled to the USA and then to France seeking help for a revolution. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

‘An Argument on Behalf of Catholics in Ireland’ “…religious division was a tool of the elite to balance the one party by the other, plunder and laugh at the defeat of both” - Theobald Wolfe Tone www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

English Anti-French Revolution Propaganda (Late 18 th & early 19 th Century) www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Britain fears Discontent in Ireland • England feared French Revolutionary interference in Ireland, so they quickly removed many of the Penal Laws to prevent any further discontent. • The British Government also banned the Society of United Irishmen in 1793. It now became an outlawed secret society • Catholics could still not become members of parliament (MPs) • Catholics could still not be appointed to high positions of power • However, a few crucial parts of the Penal Law Code were still kept, including…. . www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

British Response to Growing Unrest • In the mid-to-late 1790 s, the British realised that discontent was growing in Ireland that plans were being made for a rebellion. • Revolutionary France declared war on Britain in February 1793. • In order to counteract this threat, Britain took steps to prevent a rebellion taking place: • They introduced the death penalty for administering oaths • The army was given enormous powers of search, arrest & punishment • General Lake was one of the most infamous British Army commanders with regard to these new, expanded powers. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Reverend William Jackson • The arrest of a French spy, who had come to Ireland to find out about conditions here, added to Britain’s fear of an impending French invasion. • Jackson was arrested on 28 th April 1794 and held in prison for a year before he committed suicide on the morning that he was to be declared guilty. • Tone, a member of the Protestant Ascendancy class, was allowed to go to America. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Tone seeks help From France • In 1796, Tone travelled from America to France to seek help from the French. • He persuaded the French that if they invaded Ireland, Catholics & Presbyterians would rise up and support them. • In December 1796, the French decided to send a force of 15, 000 men to Ireland under General Hoche in 43 ships along with Wolfe Tone. • However, the expedition was doomed by bad weather, with only 6, 000 soldiers being able to land in Bantry Bay. General Hoche’s ship was blown off course so the other French commanders decided to return to France. The planned expedition was a failure. Wolfe Tone appeals for help from French Government www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney General Hoche

General Hoche’s expedition blown off-course 1796 www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Theobald Wolfe Tone 1763 -1798 • When Tone went to France, he persuaded them to send an invasion force of 15, 000 troops, commanded by General Hoche, to Ireland. • In December 1796, he travelled with this invasion force to Bantry Bay. However, bad weather blew most of the ships off course. • Shortly after the 1798 Rising, Tone travelled with a small expedition force to Lough Swilly in Co. Donegal. • He was captured by the English and quickly sentenced to death. He committed suicide before he could be executed. • He was the first to argue that Ireland should be an independent Republic. • Therefore, he is remembered as the ‘Father of Irish Republicanism. ’ www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Lord Edward Fitzgerald • Another member of the Protestant Ascendancy, Lord Edward Fitzgerald would also become a leading member of Revolutionary activity in Ireland. • Travelled to France in October 1792 and quickly converted to the ideals of the French Revolution, dismissing his own hereditary titles. • Joined the Society of United Irishmen in 1796 • His plans to stage a rising in Kildare were found out by spies and he was captured by authorities. The British Government were anxious to avoid executing one of the Protestant Ascendancy class in Ireland, reportedly conveying this message to him: "For God's sake get this young man out of the country; the ports shall be thrown open, and no hindrance whatever offered” • Fitzgerald refused this escape, preferring to stay and fight, with or without French help. Fitzgerald was severely wounded during his arrest, which he resisted and died on 4 th June 1798 from lack of medical attention. He was 34. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Arrest of Edward Fitzgerald 1798 www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

British Response to Growing Unrest • General Lake issued orders for all civilians in Ulster to hand over their weapons. This crippled the Society of United Irishmen’s plans for rebellion. • Lake burnt houses, flogged and tortured rebels who were found with weapons. • Pitch-capping, flogging and other torture were General Lake’s methods of punishing rebels. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Brutal Suppression of Rebellion (1798) www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

1798 Rising: Wexford – Ulster – Kildare www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Preparations for Rebellion • With many of their leaders either dead, imprisoned or exiled, the Society of United Irishmen decided to continue with plans for the rising. • They had 300, 000 members in 1798. However, these men were poorly armed and trained. • Leaders like Edward Fitzgerald and William Jackson had already died before the rebellion could take place. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Rising in Leinster • On 23 rd May 1798, the rebels attempted a rebellion in Leinster. • They were defeated at the Curragh, Co. Kildare. • They were also defeated in Carlow & Tara, Co. Meath. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Rising in Wexford Fr. John Murphy www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Rising in Wexford • In Late May 1798, Wexford rebels defeated Government forces at: - Battle of Oulart Hill, (27 th May) - Enniscorthy (28 th May) - Wexford Town (Battle of Three Rocks) – 30 th May • However, the rebels were then defeated at New Ross & Arklow. • The final battle took place at Vinegar Hill on 21 st June, 1798. Thousands of rebels were executed after the defeat of Vinegar Hill, including Fr. John Murphy & other leaders. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Battle of Vinegar Hill • Rebel forces defeated at Vinegar Hill on 21 st June, 1798 • This was a decisive loss for the United Irishmen and effectively ended the rebellion in Wexford & Leinster www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Rising in Ulster: Antrim & Ballinahinch, Co. Down Henry Joy Mc. Cracken: Antrim City Henry Monroe: Ballinahinch www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Date Location Battle Result 24 May Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare Battle of Ballymore-Eustace United Irishmen repulsed 24 May Naas, County Kildare Battle of Naas United Irishmen repulsed 24– 28 May Rathangan, County Kildare Battle of Rathangan United Irish victory, rebels repulsed 28 May 24 May Prosperous, County Kildare Battle of Prosperous United Irish victory 24 May Old Kilcullen, County Kildare Battle of Old Kilcullen United Irish defeat Cavalry force and advance on Kilcullen 24 May Kilcullen, County Kildare Battle of Kilcullen British victory 25 May Carnew, County Wicklow Carnew massacre British execute 38 prisoners 25 May Dunlavin, County Wicklow Dunlavin Green massacre British execute 36 prisoners 25 May Carlow, County Carlow Battle of Carlow British victory, rising in Carlow crushed 26 May The Harrow, County Wexford Battle of the Harrow United Irish victory 26 May Hill of Tara, County Meath Battle of Tara Hill British victory, Rising in Meath defeated 27 May Oulart, County Wexford Battle of Oulart Hill United Irish victory 28 May Enniscorthy, County Wexford Battle of Enniscorthy United Irish victory 29 May Curragh, County Kildare Gibbet Rath massacre British execute 300– 500 rebels 30 May Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow Battle of Newtownmountkennedy British victory 30 May Forth Mountain, County Wexford Battle of Three Rocks United Irish victory, Wexford taken See also www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

1 June Bunclody, County Wexford Battle of Bunclody British victory 4 June Tuberneering, County Wexford Battle of Tuberneering United Irish victory, British counter-attack repulsed 5 June New Ross, County Wexford Battle of New Ross British victory 5 June Scullabogue, County Wexford Scullabogue massacre Irish rebels kill 100– 200 loyalists 7 June Antrim, County Antrim Battle of Antrim United Irishmen repulsed 9 June Arklow, County Wicklow Battle of Arklow United Irishmen repulsed 9 June Saintfield, County Down Battle of Saintfield United Irish victory 12– 13 June Ballynahinch, County Down Battle of Ballynahinch British victory 19 June Shannonvale, County Cork. Battle of the Big Cross[27] British victory 19 June near Kilcock, County Kildare Battle of Ovidstown British victory 20 June Foulkesmill, County Wexford Battle of Foulksmills British victory 21 June Enniscorthy, County Wexford Battle of Vinegar Hill British victory 30 June near Carnew, County Wicklow Battle of Ballyellis United Irish victory 27 August Castlebar, County Mayo Battle of Castlebar United Irish/French victory 5 September Collooney, County Sligo Battle of Collooney United Irish/French victory 8 September Ballinamuck, County Longford Battle of Ballinamuck British victory 23 September Killala, County Mayo Battle of Killala British victory 12 October near Tory Island, County Donegal Battle of Tory Island British victory www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Rising in Connaught • In August 1798, a small French force landed in Kallala, Co. Mayo and together with local rebels routed the British forces in the Battle of Castlebar – so called ‘The Castlebar Races’. • However, in September 1798, rebel forces were defeated at the Battle of Ballinamuck. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

The Capture & Arrest of Wolfe Tone • Shortly after the 1798 Rising, Tone travelled with a small expedition force to Lough Swilly in Co. Donegal. • He was captured by the English and quickly sentenced to death. • He committed suicide on 19 th September 1798 in his prison cell before he could be executed. www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

Death of Wolfe Tone www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney

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The Legacies & Effects of the 1798 Rising Act of Union Republicanism • Under the Act of Union (1800), the British Government abolished the parliament in Ireland ‘direct rule’ was implemented in Ireland from Westminster Parliament in London. • What had changed? • Wolfe Tone & the United Irishmen introduced a new concept to Ireland’s struggle for independence: Republicanism, a political ideal that is still current today and formed the ideology of all later rebellions: - Robert Emmet Rising (1803) - Young Irelanders Rebellion (1848) - Fenian Uprising (1867) - IRB – Easter Rising (1916) www. historyvault. ie - B. Mc. Sweeney