Welcome to Onward History

The history of any country is important to how it has shaped its culture over the years, and Irish history is no different. With stories of how the English ruled over us for many years, to religious fudes, Ireland has so much stories to share of how it became the country it is today. And so, we share to you our brief summary of Ireland's enriching history.

Introduction

Irish history is rich and complex, marked by centuries of cultural evolution, conflict, and resilience. One significant event was the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, which led to centuries of English influence and control. From The Plantations to the Civil War, we'll be diving into some key moments in Irish History.

The Plantations

The Irish plantations were a series of colonization efforts by the English and Scottish in Ireland, primarily in the 16th and 17th centuries. The most notable of these were the Munster, Ulster, and Leinster plantations, where large areas of land were confiscated from Irish landowners and given to English and Scottish settlers. These plantations were part of a broader strategy to assert English control over Ireland, and they significantly altered the social, economic, and political landscape. The Ulster Plantation, in particular, had a lasting impact, contributing to the deep-seated divisions between Irish Catholics and Protestant settlers that would persist for centuries.

Timeline:

  • 1556 – The Munster Plantation begins, after the English crown begins to settle English and Welsh landowners in the province of Munster, following the rebellion of the native Gaelic lords.

  • 1606 – The Ulster Plantation officially begins, following the defeat of the Gaelic lords in the Nine Years' War (1594–1603) and the subsequent confiscation of lands in northern Ireland. English and Scottish settlers were encouraged to move to Ulster.

  • 1610 – The first significant wave of settlers arrives in Ulster as part of the plantation process, with large numbers of Scots Presbyterians particularly in counties like Antrim and Down.

  • 1620s – The Leinster Plantation takes shape, with more settlers moving into the east of Ireland, though not on the same scale as the Ulster and Munster plantations.

  • 1641 – The Irish Rebellion of 1641, which was partially a response to the land seizures and the growing power of English and Scottish settlers, leads to significant conflict and unrest in Ireland.

 

 

"We serve neither King nor Kaiser, but Ireland."

The banner on Liberty Hall during the first World War, 1914.

The Great Famine

The Irish Famine, also known as the Great Hunger, occurred between 1845 and 1852 and was caused by a potato blight that devastated crops across Ireland. Potatoes were a staple food for the majority of the population, and the crop failure led to widespread starvation. Over a million people died, and another million emigrated, many to the United States, drastically reducing Ireland's population. The British government's inadequate response to the crisis, coupled with economic policies that exacerbated the situation, fueled resentment and significantly contributed to the growing calls for Irish independence. The famine remains a deeply emotional and transformative event in Irish history.

Timeline:

  • 1845 – The potato blight first strikes Ireland, beginning the crop failure that would lead to the famine.

  • 1846 – The famine worsens as the blight devastates the potato crop for a second consecutive year, leading to widespread starvation and disease.

  • 1847 – Known as "Black '47," this year marks the peak of the famine, with the highest death toll and emigration rates. The British government's relief efforts were insufficient.

  • 1849 – The British government finally begins to implement more structured relief efforts, but the damage is already extensive, and the effects of the famine linger.

  • 1851 – The census reveals the full extent of the population loss, with Ireland's population having decreased by around 2 million people due to death and emigration.

 

The Rebellion

The Irish Rebellion of 1641 was a major uprising against English rule, sparked by religious, political, and economic grievances. Irish Catholics, who had been marginalized by English Protestant settlers, sought to regain control of their land and challenge English authority. The rebellion began in Ulster but spread across Ireland, leading to violent clashes and massacres on both sides. It resulted in a brutal conflict that lasted for several years, ultimately leading to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the mid-1650s. The rebellion deepened the divisions between Irish Catholics and English Protestants, setting the stage for further tensions in Irish history.

Timeline:

  • October 22, 1641 – The Irish Rebellion begins, as Catholic landowners in Ulster, led by Rory O'Moore and other leaders, rise up against English and Scottish Protestant settlers. The rebellion spreads quickly throughout Ireland.

  • November 1641 – The rebellion leads to widespread violence and massacres, particularly in the northern provinces of Ulster, where thousands of Protestants are killed or forced to flee.

  • 1642 – The Irish Confederate Catholics form the Irish Catholic Confederation, a political and military alliance that seeks to organize resistance against English rule. This marks the beginning of a prolonged conflict.

  • 1649 – Oliver Cromwell's forces arrive in Ireland to suppress the rebellion, beginning a brutal military campaign. The siege of Drogheda, where Cromwell's forces massacre Irish defenders and civilians, becomes one of the most notorious events of the conflict.

  • 1653 – The rebellion is officially quelled by Cromwellian forces, although resistance continues in some areas. The land confiscations and harsh punishments that follow deepen divisions between the Irish and the English.

 

 

"I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system."

Mary Robinson, 1990.

War of Independence

The Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) was a conflict between Irish republicans, led by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and British forces over Ireland's right to self-rule. The war began after the 1918 general election, in which the pro-independence Sinn Féin party won a landslide victory, declaring an independent Irish Republic. Fighting erupted across Ireland, with the IRA engaging in guerrilla warfare against British forces, including the Royal Irish Constabulary and the British Army. The conflict was marked by brutal tactics on both sides. The war ended with the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, which led to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth, though it left Northern Ireland under British control.

Timeline:

  • 1919 – The war officially begins on January 21 when the First Dáil (Irish parliament) declares independence, and the IRA carries out its first attacks on British forces, marking the start of the conflict.

  • 1920 – The conflict intensifies, with significant guerrilla warfare between the IRA and British forces. In response, the British government establishes martial law in many areas, and the Irish War of Independence reaches its peak.

  • November 21, 1920 – "Bloody Sunday" occurs, where IRA gunmen assassinate 14 British intelligence agents, and British forces retaliate by opening fire on a crowd at a Gaelic football match, killing 14 more people.

  • July 1921 – A truce is declared between the IRA and British forces on July 11, after months of brutal fighting, leading to negotiations for peace.

  • December 6, 1921 – The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed, establishing the Irish Free State, though it remains a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth. This treaty leads to the eventual partition of Ireland.

  • 1922 – The Irish Free State officially comes into being on December 6, 1922, after the Treaty is ratified, though tensions over the treaty lead to the Irish Civil War between pro- and anti-Treaty forces.

 

The Civil War

The Irish Civil War (1922–1923) was a conflict between two factions of the Irish nationalist movement following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The treaty, which established the Irish Free State, was supported by pro-Treaty forces, who believed it was a step towards full independence, but opposed by anti-Treaty forces, who felt it compromised Ireland’s sovereignty by keeping Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State within the British Commonwealth. The war broke out in June 1922, marked by intense fighting between the pro-Treaty Irish Free State Army and anti-Treaty IRA fighters. The conflict was brutal and deeply divisive, leaving lasting scars on Irish society. The pro-Treaty side ultimately prevailed, and the anti-Treaty forces surrendered in May 1923, but the civil war created enduring political and social rifts in Ireland.

Timeline:

  • June 28, 1922 – The Irish Civil War officially begins when pro-Treaty forces, led by the Irish Free State Army, seize the Four Courts in Dublin, which had been occupied by anti-Treaty forces.

  • July 1922 – Intense fighting breaks out across Ireland, particularly in Dublin, where street battles between pro- and anti-Treaty forces continue for several weeks.

  • August 1922 – The anti-Treaty IRA, under the leadership of Éamon de Valera and others, retreats to the countryside after being driven out of Dublin. The conflict spreads to rural areas, leading to guerrilla warfare.

  • November 1922 – The anti-Treaty forces launch a series of attacks on Free State military installations and infrastructure, but the pro-Treaty army maintains control of key cities.

  • April 1923 – The anti-Treaty forces, exhausted and weakened by months of fighting, agree to cease hostilities. On April 30, anti-Treaty leader Éamon de Valera orders the IRA to cease resistance.

  • May 1923 – The Irish Civil War officially ends as the anti-Treaty forces formally surrender to the pro-Treaty government, marking the end of the violent conflict.

 

"When you are lying drunk at the airport you're Irish. When you win an Oscar you're British."

Brenda Fricker.