Read
about The 1798 Rebellion From
'A Concise History of Ireland' by P
W Joyce |
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Counter measures were soon introduced. The Arms Bill decreed the formation of a militia and forbade the carrying of arms by all except government forces. The Convention Act forbade the assembling of any bodies calling themselves representatives of the nation. January 1795 saw the appointment of Lord Fitzwilliam, an Irish landowner friendly to the Catholic cause, as Lord Lieutenant. He planned to bring about full Catholic emancipation, but naturally the establishment opposed him and prevailed upon Pitt to withdraw his support. Pitt instructed Fitzwilliam not to introduce any proposal to admit Catholics to Parliament and to government offices, but to support such a measure if it were brought forward by others. Fitzwilliam was eventually recalled. Lord Camden succeeded Fitzwilliam. Camden was instructed to oppose Catholic emancipation and the reform of Parliament. When the British executed one of their number William Orr at Carrickfergus on 14th October 1797, The United Irishmen could see no alternative but armed struggle. The legal and public oath of the United Irishmen was changed to a secret and revolutionary one. The United Irishmen's Directory in Dublin began to organize Ireland on a military basis, and emissaries were sent to France in an effort to enlist the support of the French government. In early 1796 The Insurrection Act was passed.
Tone in Paris persuaded the French director Lazare Carnot to launch a Military expedition to Ireland, promising that the Irish people would rise in support. Eventually Carnot agreed, and on the 16th December 1796 an armada of forty three ships sailed from Brest for Ireland. On board were fourteen thousand troops commanded by General Lazare Hoche. Sailing in the Indomitable was Tone, now a general officer in the French army. Due to bad weather and problems with navigation only thirty four of the fleet reached Bantry Bay five days later, upon their arrival the weather deteriorated making landing impossible. A French Lieutenant and his crew in a longboat from the frigate Resolue were swept ashore while trying to communicate between the anchored ships. They were captured and taken to Bantry House 'used as headquarters of the British garrison' for interrogation. These were the only French to land in Ireland on this occasion. By 31st December the operation was called off, and the ships still in Bantry Bay weighed anchor and set sail for home. The captured longboat can be seen in Dublin maritime museum. The rebellion began on May 23rd 1798 The United Irishmen inflicting humiliating defeats on the crown at Enniscorthy and Wexford where they captured the towns. Possibly due to communication problems the the rebellion in Ulster did not begin until 7th June, when Henry Joy McCracken led United men to Antrim town where they were defeated and scattered. McCracken was captured and hanged in Belfast. The rebellion was more formidable in county Down where Presbyterians joined the cause in impressive numbers. The York Fencibles were totally routed at Saintfield, but the rebellion in the north was over when the insurgents were defeated at Ballynahinch on 12th 13th June. The tide turned in the southeast when the government had victories at Arklow, New Ross, Bunclody and Vinegar Hill. French troops landed at Killala in August and won a striking victory at Castlebar, only to be defeated at Ballinamuck in County Longford. A French naval force was overwhelmed in Lough Swilly in November, and Wolfe Tone was captured and committed suicide in prison shortly afterwards. It is estimated that about 30,000 lives were lost in the rebellion, the conflict was such that families for whatever reason were often divided in their loyalty, father against son, brother against brother. |
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