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The Potato Famine and the Armed Fight
 1845-1849 |
An Gorta Mor (Potato Famine). A fungus infects all the potato harvests (was the main food of the poor population) making them inedible. All the other harvests are fruitful but they cost too much for poor people (the Gaelic-Irishes).
Typhus and Cholera propagate in all the Country. Approximately 3 million Irishes die or are forced to emigrate, mainly towards America. The famine leaves a lasting sign in the population. The migrations will continue for all the following century. The anti-British feeling grows: they accuse the English government not to come to the Irish population's aid. |
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| 1848 |
During the famine a group of supporter of the O'Connell's movement, the Young Ireland, attempts an independence war unsuccessfully. One of the rebellious, James Stephans, avoids the prison organising his false funeral and escaping in France. He will return ten years later to form a movement called "Irish Republican Brotherhood" (IRB) in Ireland and "Fenian Brotherhood" in the United States. | |
| 1867 |
Unsuccessful Fenian revolt in Ireland. | |
| 1879 |
Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Devitt found the Land League, that begins numerous riots in many areas of the country. Parnell, for the first time, suggests to use the boycotting method against the abuses of land owners. |
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| 1879-1882 |
Land war. | |
| 1881 |
The English minister Gladstone sign the Land Act in order to try to improve tenant's condition instituting fairer rents. Three years later the Gaelic Athletic Association is founded to promote traditional sports (hurling and Gaelic football). | |
| 1886 |
Gladstone with Parnell proposes the Home Rule in order to give an even limited autonomy to Ireland, but this law is rejected be the House of Commons. | |
| 1890 |
The affair between Parnell and one of his party companion's wife become public. For this scandal he's removed from office and he loses the elections. Three years later it the Gaelic League is founded in order to revitalise Gaelic language and culture. | |
| 1893 |
The second Home Rule promoted by Gladstone is approved of by the House of Commons but not by the House of Lords. | |
| 1905 |
Arthur Griffith founds the Sinn Fein, at first nationalist movement, then political party | |
| 1913 |
In Ulster (where a strong industrialisation has brought prosperity) is formed the Ulster Volunteer Force, guided by Sir Edward Carson, in order to offer resistance to the Home Rule. In the meantime in the South the Irish Volunteers are created to defend the Home Rule. |
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| 1914 |
Many weapons are smuggled by Protestants and Catholics. The Home is definitively approved, but the outbreak of World-War I leaves all unsettled. | |
| 1916 |
Part of the Irish Volunteers guided by Patrick Pearse and the Irish Citizen Army guided by James Connolly organises the Easter uprising in Dublin. The rebellious' headquarters becomes the GPO (Central Post Office) in O' Connell Street in Dublin. Pearse reads a declaration to proclaim Ireland an independent Republic. But the public opinion blame this revolt. After less than a week the rebellious are forced to surrender and the chiefs are executed in Kilmainham Jail. These deaths provoke an abrupt change of the public opinion towards the republicans |
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| 1919 |
At the elections the Sinn Feín obtains a large majority of Irish seats and in Dublin convenes the Dail Eireann (Parliament) illegally, declaring the Independence of Ireland. Eamonn De Valera becomes President, Griffith vice president and Michael Collins Minister of Finances and Commander of the new Republican Army, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), formed from members of the Irish Volunteers. Two policemen are killed in county Tipperary and this episode marks the beginning of the Anglo-Irish war. Crashes between the IRA, supported by the population, and a coalition formed by soldiers of the British army and the special corps of the Auxiliaries and Black & Tans. |
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| 1921 |
AIn London is signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty that grants independence to 26 counties, leaving to 6 counties of Ulster position to choose. The members of Dail must take an oath to the English Crown. Two Irish representatives, Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith, sign without consulting the Leader of the movement De Valera. |
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| 1922 |
The Irish Free State is founded with Cosgrave as head of the Government. The 6 counties of Ulster become the Northern Ireland, under control of Great Britain but with an own parliament in Stormont. The civil war breaks out in Ireland: followers of Collins and the Treaty (now part of the army of the New State) against the opposers guided by Brugha. The Irish government, with British military attendance, shell the rebellious' headquarter begins a series of violent attacks against them. Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith are killed by their former-companions. | |
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