The affects of British rule on Ireland

[Entrails Konfetti]

Hello,
I see there are quite a few Irish comrades around here, and they are for a Workers Republic too ;).

In the USA you don't hear much about the centuries of oppression Britian placed on Ireland, and it is quite interesting to know becasuse the Irish citizens still fight for independence today. I would like to know more about how Britian imposed their rule, when it started, and what acts of terror the British tried to co-erce Ireland with.

All I ever hear about in the USA is mostly about Leprehauns, St.Patricks Day, and the Potato Famine. None of which helps in understanding the motives for independance.

[WeOnlyWantTheEarth]

Hi there!

Believe it or not,all the trouble goes back roughly 800 years! Ireland fell victim to British plantations, which were met with some resistance. British rule in Ireland has always had resistance to it, at some stages more than others. I can't really claim to know much on the plantations,my real interest in Irish History begins around the time of the Dublin Lockouts,1913.

Still,it is fair to say radical Irish nationalist were hugely influenced by the revolutions of France and indeed America.The United Irishmen came about,including a man named Wolfe Tone. Wolfe Tone was himself a Protestant, proof if any was needed that the "Protestant Vrs. Catholic" reporting that was used for years by the media,complete rubbish) in fact,religion was always a tool used by the British to play the Irish working class against each other. Efforts by some on the left to unionize members of both communities tended to fail for that reason.


1798 rebellion of Wolfe Tone and the Society of the United Irishmen
1803 rebellion associated with Robert Emmet -also a United Irishman
1848 Young Ireland rebellion associated with Thomas Davis and Charles Gavan Duffy
1867 Fenian rebellion associated with James Stephens and Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
1916 Easter Rising associated with Padraig Pearse and James Connolly
1919-21 Anglo-Irish War
1922-23 Irish Civil War
1940s Sabotage Campaign (IRA)
1950s Border Campaign (IRA)
1969-97 Provisional IRA campaign 1969-1997

Thats a pretty incomplete list. Taken from Wikipedia. Along with the PIRA listed there, many other groups,like the Socialist INLA, fought against(most Republican groups are currently on ceasefire,in fact I think all are(anyone know if I'm wrong?)) British rule too.Something you'll find,is the "reds" in the history of Irish Republicanism,are often left out.

The British have always used extreme tactics in dealing with Republicans, groups like the Black and Tans set about burning towns through Munster, destroying homes etc. Internment in the "North" later on, the time of the "Men Behind The Wire" is another great example. The British in Ireland have always done more for Republican P.R than any Republican ever managed. This was probably best proven after the Easter Rising("If we kill them all,that&#39;ll shut the rest of them up"<Bad idea)

The British tended to rule Ireland,when they had it all, with fear. I&#39;ve read of women having their hair cut off for delivering notes for Republicans(See "In Their Own Words",book), the burning of Cork is another example.Question their rule, and you got made an example of.


The Workers Republic you mentioned,is still one unseen. Throughout Irish history,some people worthy of mention,and that you should look into who fought for that Workers Republic:
Jim Larkin
James Connolly
Peadar O Donnell
Liam Mellows
The Hungerstrikers of 1981
The Irish Citizens Army
among others...

I would love nothing more than to see the dream become a reality,who knows? We&#39;ll have to work for it,it won&#39;t arrive on its on&#33;

Oh,a point worth mentioning...believe it or not,I learned a LOT about Irish History and Republicanism,through song&#33; http://irelandsown.net/songs.html features a pretty brilliant selection of lyrics from some famous,and some not so famous,Republican songs.

Now all you noble Irishmen,
Come join with me for liberty.
And we will forge a mighty weapon,
And smash the bonds of slavery&#33;
Take care,
Donal

[LoneRed]

that really helps a lot,

from what i know, the protestant unionists didnt want home rule, and fought against the home rule bill of 1912. The created a militia of sorts to protect their interests from what they thought was "rome rule". to counteract that Redmond and other nationalists, created the Irish volunteers in the hopes of coercing the ulster unionists so they would get outta control

Eventually the IRB in usually pearse and others got some members from the IV to join the side of the uprising, the more militant nationalists, along with James Connolly and ICA, he wanted to act sooner, yet the uprising was sold out by MacDermott and The O&#39;Rahilly, who countermanded the order and the day before, supposedly because they got news that the shipment of arms on the Aud got intercepted, although others say that they found out when the uprising was planned and wanted to stop, or greatly screw things up.