Irish Rebellions/Uprisings

Just a warning this blog is basically just gonna be a history lessons on a bunch of Irish Rebellions and Uprisings that interested me as possible topics for my next film after The Cave. I would recommend just skimming through the blog cause it will likely not be an entertaining read. I started in Wikipedia looking up the conflicts and then proceeded to find other websites in order to find the legitimate facts.

(Irish) Nine Years War

The Nine Years War took place from August 1594 to March 1603. Took place in Ireland and started with an Irish attack in Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits, ended with Irish surrender by O'Neill. The English had taken possession of Ireland in the 12th century. Following possession the English assimilate with the Irish, Irish Clans & Earls gain power. England controls the area around Dublin and Rural Ireland is controlled by the Clans. English try to extend their influence over the Dublin area while Hugh O'Neill, leader of the strongest Clan also tries to extend his influence. Another important thing to keep in mind is that England was at war with the Spanish from years 1585-1604
Sequence of Irish victories:

  • August 1594: O‘Donnel & Maguire win the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits
  • March 1595: O'Neill & O'Donnel win the Battle of Clontibret
  • August 1598: O'Neill wins the Battle of the Yellow Ford
  • Several rebellions all over Ireland, many English settlements in the South (Munster) are destroyed
However, even with rebellions all over Ireland and even some successful ones, the Dublin region stays loyal to the crown.  I also am gonna copy and paste some info from the sight just cause I think if I do this film I'd want to do something with the ceasefire with the Earl of Essex. 

  • Mar 1599: Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex is announced Lord Deputy of Ireland & lands with approx. 17,000 troops
  • Apr – Aug 1599: Essex brings the south under English control & launches expeditions to the north
  • Aug 1599: O‘Donnell wins the Battle Curlew Pass
  • 1599: Essex negotiates a ceasefire with O‘Neill
In 1600 Lord Mountjoy becomes Lord Deputy, as well as George Carew becoming the President of Munster. They start a campaign against the Irish rebellions, leading to the city of Ulster being invaded and later suffering from famine as a result. In 1601 the Spanish land in Kinsale to help Irish forces fight the English, Mountjoy holds siege against Kinsale and ends up defeating the Spanish forces as well as O'Donnel & O'Neill. On March 30th, 1603 O'Neill surrenders, effectively ending the Irish 9 Years War. 

The war cost around 100,000 lives, a main cause being starvation. Another result of the war is the Treaty of Mellifont, which decreased O'Neills influence as well as forcing him to swear allegiance to the crown, the introduction of English law into Ireland, and the English language becoming mandatory in Ireland. Another obvious consequence of the war is an increase in tensions between the Irish Lords and England. In 1607 several Irish Lords try and fail to gain Spanish help and forces (Flight of the Earls), leading in 1608 the distribution of the Lords lands by the English. 

Irish Confederate War (The 11 Years War)

Irish uprising started in October 1641, began as conspiracy to seize key strongholds, rapidly escalated into a war between the Three Kingdoms (England, Scotland, and Ireland). Irish Insurgents fail to secure Dublin (English & Scottish), coup that was intended to be a general insurrection presenting resentment against Protestant settlers from England and Scotland quickly turned to violence. Uprising started in Ulster, spread throughout Ireland by the spring of 1642, mostly due to support from Catholic Anglo-Irish aristocracy. Troops sent by England and Scotland to quell uprising, but Irish forces were more organized than expected due to the Confederation of Kilkenny (May 1642) and retired fighters returning to fight for Ireland and Catholicism. King Charles attempts to make terms with the Confederates to enlist Irish soldiers help against Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, Confederate Assembly is thrown into disarray due to heavy negotiations with the English. They mention an Archbishop Rinuccini demanding a full restoration of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Wars in England and Scotland prolonged and complicated the Confederate War. The Confederates, Loyalists, and Parliamentarians were all unable to make any significant military progress and victory. In 1647 the King's deputy (Marquis of Ormond) surrenders Dublin to English parliamentarians, rather than allow it to fall to Confederates. After the execution of King Charles the First (1649) however, Ormond negotiates the Second Ormond Peace, securing an uneasy alliance between the Confederates, Loyalists, and Ulster Scots against the parliamentarians. The Irish Confederate War (otherwise known as the 11 Years War) had heavy tolls, massive loss of life, and overall devastation in Ireland. The War was ended by Oliver Cromwell's conquest of Ireland in 1649-1652 with the New Model Army. 
The following is a link to the timeline of events during the War, which I could use to develop scenes for the film: http://bcw-project.org/timelines/the-confederate-war
Overview link if needed for further reference: http://bcw-project.org/military/confederate-war/

Easter Rising

Easter Rising is an interesting one, it only takes place in 1916. Most specifically, April 24, 1916. Personally I don't know anything about Easter Rising but I know it was a dark time for Ireland and showed the evil of the IRA. This is not one I actually intend on making a film on since it doesn't fit my theme, but having 60% Irish ancestry I felt it to be my duty to do research and inform myself on this horrible event.

On April 24th, 1916, a group of Irish Nationalists proclaim the establishment of the Irish Republic with 1,600 followers, proceed to rebel against the British government in Ireland. Rebels seized some prominent buildings in Dublin and had several clashes with British troops. This only lasted within a week however, ending with over 2000 dead or injured, and the execution of the rebellion leaders. Initially little support from the Irish for Easter's Rising, but public opinion swayed eventually and the leaders were regarded as martyrs. 1921 a treaty is signed that established the Irish Free State in 1922, which eventually become the modern Republic of Ireland. 

S-Plan/Sabotage Campaign

This one actually ended up being a rather anti-climactic rebellion. It was mostly about the IRA's bombings during WW2. After the bombings Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament), took strict measures against the IRA, including provision for internment without trial. IRA activities against the British during the second world war severely embarrassed the Irish government, which wanted to remain neutral. The IRA even sought out the help of Adolf Hitler to overthrow the British from Ireland, and five IRA leaders were executed, many more confined.

Conclusions

Well, the last two were really disappointing but the first two "Wars" are actually incredibly interesting. I will likely be choosing one of the two for my film.

Bibliography

“The Confederate War: Overview.” The Confederate War, 1641-52, bcw-project.org/military/confederate-war/.
Cowell-Meyers, Kimberly, and Paul Arthur. “Irish Republican Army.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 Dec. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Irish-Republican-Army.
History.com Editors. “Easter Rising.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/british-history/easter-rising.
User, Super. “The Nine Years War in Ireland.” Home, www.history-in-five.org/index.php/11-british-isles/11-the-nine-years-war-in-ireland.

Activity Log 2/3-2/7
Monday 2/3: Absent
Tuesday 2/4: Review Blog Post
Wednesday 2/5: Review Blog Post
Thursday 2/6: Irish Rebellions/Uprisings (research into all Irish rebellions)
Friday 2/7: Irish Rebellions/Uprisings (research into chosen rebellions)

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