Irish revolutionary period

Quick Facts: Who was Irish revolutionary period?

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Irish revolutionary period

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The tumultuous period in Irish history marked by republicanism, partition, and civil conflict.

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Origins & Early Life

The revolutionary period in Irish history was the period in the 1910s and early 1920s when Irish nationalist opinion shifted from the Home Rule-supporting Irish Parliamentary Party to the independence-supporting Sinn Féin movement. There were several waves of civil unrest linked to Ulster loyalism, trade unionism, and physical force republicanism, leading to the Irish War of Independence, the Partition of Ireland, the creation of the Irish Free State, and the Irish Civil War. Some modern historians define the revolutionary period as the period from the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill into Parliament in 1912 to the end of the Civil War in 1923, or sometimes more narrowly as the period from the Easter Rising in 1916 to the end of the War of Independence or the Civil War. The early years of the Free State, when it was governed by the pro-Treaty party Cumann na nGaedheal, have been described by at least one historian as a counter-revolution. Cumann na nGaedheal minister Kevin O'Higgins said in 1923, "we were probably the most conservative revolutionaries that ever put through a successful revolution".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Home Rule seemed certain in 1910 when the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) under John Redmond held the balance of power in the British House of Commons. The third Home Rule Bill was introduced in 1912. Unionist resistance was immediate, with the formation of the Ulster Volunteers (UVF); this in turn spurred nationalists to establish their own militant organisation, the Irish Volunteers. The Dublin lock-out in the same year led to creation of the Irish Citizen Army. In September 1914, two months after the First World War broke out, the UK Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1914, known as the Home Rule Act, to establish self-government for Ireland, but the act was suspended for the duration of the war.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Irish nationalist leaders and the IPP under Redmond supported Ireland's participation in the British war effort, in the belief that it would ensure implementation of Home Rule after the war. A core of leaders within the Irish Volunteers were against this decision, but the majority of the men left to form the National Volunteers, some of whom enlisted in Irish regiments of the New British Army, the 10th and 16th (Irish) Divisions, the counterparts of the unionist 36th (Ulster) Division. Before the war ended, Britain made two concerted efforts to implement Home Rule, one in May 1916 and again with the Irish Convention during 1917–1918, but nationalists and unionists were unable to agree to terms for the temporary or permanent exclusion of Ulster from its provisions. The period 1916–1921 was marked by political violence and upheaval, ending in the partition of Ireland and independence for 26 of its 32 counties. A failed militant attempt by the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army was made to gain independence for Ireland with the 1916 Easter Rising, an insurrection in Dublin.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1910: 1910 Milestone — Home Rule seemed certain in 1910 when the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) under John Redmond held the balance of power in the British House of Commons.
2. 1912: 1912 Milestone — Some modern historians define the revolutionary period as the period from the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill into Parliament in 1912 to the end of the Civil War in 1923, or sometimes more narrowly as the period from the Easter Rising in 1916 to the end of the War of Independence or the Civil War.
3. 1914: 1914 Milestone — In September 1914, two months after the First World War broke out, the UK Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1914, known as the Home Rule Act, to establish self-government for Ireland, but the act was suspended for the duration of the war.
4. 1916: 1916 Milestone — Before the war ended, Britain made two concerted efforts to implement Home Rule, one in May 1916 and again with the Irish Convention during 1917–1918, but nationalists and unionists were unable to agree to terms for the temporary or permanent exclusion of Ulster from its provisions.
5. 1923: 1923 Milestone — Cumann na nGaedheal minister Kevin O'Higgins said in 1923, "we were probably the most conservative revolutionaries that ever put through a successful revolution".

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Irish revolutionary period

True or False: “The Irish War of Independence was solely a conflict between the newly formed Free State government and British forces.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The war involved multiple factions, including the Irish Republican Army fighting against both British forces and anti-Treaty elements during the subsequent Civil War.

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• A. J. Ayer — Historical peer (Born in 1910) (1910): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• Ahmed Ali (writer) — Historical peer (Born in 1910) (1910): Pioneering Urdu writer, poet, and diplomat from British India to Pakistan.
• Abdul-Karim Qasim — Historical peer (Born in 1914) (1914): Iraqi military officer who led the country as Prime Minister from 1958 to 1963.
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