Ireland 1905-1949

From the beginning of the twentieth century, Ireland was undergoing a cultural and political revival in favour of it’s independence from Great Britain. From as early as 1169 the English had been asserting their dominance and laying claim to Ireland. What had begun as a religious quarrel between Pope Adrian IV and the Catholics of Ireland, slowly developed into the seventeenth century plantation of Protestants in Ulster. The Battle of the Boyne between King James II and William of Orange (or Catholic versus Protestant) in 1690 is a direct starting point in relation to the troubles which are still evident today. The conflict can be traced back to not only religious differences but also to social – economic divisions, which were very evident at the turn of the twentieth century.

In 1800 the Act of Union abolished the status for Ireland as a separate kingdom, and future Irish MP’s were to sit at Westminster. Politicians gradually came to realise that this would be hard to maintain without alienating the

After the Easter Uprising, Sinn Fein’s popularity sky rocketed and in 1918 they won 73 seats at the general election. However the newly appointed ministers refused to take their seats at Westminster, and instead set up their own Irish Parliament (Dail Eireann) in Dublin.

The turn of the twentieth century saw a Gaelic Revival (cultural nationalism led by the Gaelic League and Gaelic Athletic Association focusing on sport, music, dancing, language etc.) was in full swing. This revival was helped along by the creation of Sinn Fein (We Ourselves) in 1905 by Republican Arthur Griffith. Also at this time there was a revival of the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood led by) who had been threatening to seek independence from Britain by an armed revolution.

Some topics in this essay:
Dublin Maxwell, , Orange Catholic, Pearse Connolly, Sinn Fein’s, De Valera, Catholic Church, Rule Bill, Home Rule, Republican Brotherhood, home rule, twentieth century, james connolly, home rule bill, irish parliament, favour treaty, public opinion, independence britain, status ireland, rule bill, firing squad,