What you need to know
• The background of the causes.
• A study of one revolutionary leader,
study of the changes sought and
brought about by the actions of the
leader.
• How the French Revolution influenced
events in Ireland
• Consequences of the 1798 Rebellion in
Ireland.
1798 Rebellion
•
In March Spies told British that
the Irish were planning a rebellion.
•
The rebels attempted a rebellion
in Dublin but were defeated by
the British.
•
Main leaders were arrested.
•
Local leaders took over, rebellion
spread to Carlow, Meath, Kildare,
Wicklow.
•
Defeated by the British. Many
rebels executed.
Also spread to Wexford
•
People in Wexford heard of awful
events in Wicklow.
•
People were anger at the actions
of the British government.
•
In May 1798, rebellion began in
Boolavogue, led by Father John
Murphy.
•
Rebels attacked and captured
Enniscorthy. Established
headquarters at Vinegar Hill.
•
Two days later, captured
Wexford town. Led by Bagenal
Harvey.
Song
•
June 5th, rebels attacked New
Ross.
•
Rebels lacked weapons so were
defeated by British. Rebel
prisoners were executed.
•
Revenge: Rebel Prisoners burned
a barn at Scullabogue. Killed 200
Protestants.
•
Also killed 93 Protestants at
Wexford Bridge.
•
Events shocked many. Father
Philip Roche replaced Bagenal
Harvey.
• Rebel army defeated at
Arklow, Vinegar Hill was
later captured on 21 June.
• British in control.
• Leaders: Bagenal Harvey,
Father Roche, Father
Murphy captured and
hanged.
• Rebels executed and sent
to Australia.
Ulster
• United Irishmen in Ulster
also had a rebellion. Led
by Henry Joy McCracken.
• A force of rebels
attacked Antrim. Were
defeated.
• McCracken executed.
• Later battles were also
won by British.
French
•
French came to Ireland in
August.
•
Landed in Mayo, defeated a
British force.
•
British then moved onto
Longford. Met General
Cornwallis with a big army and
had to surrender.
•
French troops treated well by
British. Irish troops executed.
Death of Wolfe Tone
•
In October, another French
fleet arrived in Ireland.
Wolfe Tone travelled with
them.
•
Fleet was attacked off the
Donegal coast.
•
Wolfe Tone was captured.
Placed on trial in Dublin.
Sentenced to death.
•
Died on 19th November 1798
•
Seen as the Father of Irish
Republicanism
‘From my earliest youth I have regarded the connection
between Ireland and Great Britain as the curse of the
Irish nation and felt convinced that while it lasted,
the country would never be free and happy. In
consequence, I determined to apply all the powers
which my individual efforts could move, in order to
separate the two countries’
Timeline of events
•
March
•
May-
•
June 5th
•
Few days later: June
•
June 21st
•
Throughout June
•
August
•
October
•
19th November
•
July 1803
•
•
March –spies told British of a planned Rebellion.
May-Rebellion had broke out in Carlow, Kildare, Meath.
-Rebellion began in boolavogue, Wexford.
-Rebels captured Enniscorthy: had headquarters at Vinegar Hill
•
June 5th
-Rebels defeated at New Ross
-Rebels burned barn at Scullabogue
June
- Loyalists killed at Wexford Bridge
June 21st
-Rebels defeated at Vinegar Hill.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Throughout June
Battles in Ulster
August
- French came to Mayo
October
-French came and captured off Donegal coast.
-Wolfe Tone sentenced to death.
19th November
-Wolfe Tone dies
July 1803
-Robert Emmett organised a revolt in Dublin . Was a failure.
Consequences
1. Death and Destruction
2. Protestants and Catholics were divided.
3. Act of Union.
4. Wolfe Tone regarded as the founder of
Irish Republicanism.
5. Different form of Nationalism: Some
leaders tried to find peaceful means of
reforming Ireland. E.g. Daniel O’Connell.
Wanted to solve Irish problems by getting Irish
MP’s elected to British Parliament.