UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794

UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Infiltration of militia

UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Infiltration of militia

• Initially successful, then suppressed

UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Other strategy - ally with Defenders

UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Other strategy - recruit Defenders

• Urban middle-class movement - rural lower class movement

DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS

DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Clashes since mid-1780s

DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Clashes since mid-1780s in Armagh

• Defenders spreading into neighbouring counties

DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Escalation of clashes after 1793

Catholic Relief act, formation of militia

DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Escalation of clashes after 1793

Catholic Relief act, formation of militia

• Battle of the Diamond 1795, North Armagh

AFTER DIAMOND

AFTER DIAMOND

• Protestant groups form Orange Order

• Cross-class permanent vigilante group

AFTER DIAMOND

• Expulsions of Catholics from North Armagh

AFTER DIAMOND

• Expulsions of Catholics from North Armagh

• To north Connaught, north Leinster

AFTER DIAMOND

• Expulsions of Catholics from North Armagh

• To north Connaught, north Leinster

• Galvanising effect - spreads sectarian conflict

• Orange Order also spreads - lodges in north Connaught, north Leinster

IDEOLOGY OF DEFENDERS

DEFENDER CATECHISM

'Are you concerned?''I am.''To what?''To the National Convention.''What do you design by that cause?''To quell all nations, dethrone all kings, and to plant the true religion that was lost at the Reformation.''Who sent you?''Simon Peter, the head of the Church.’

IDEOLOGY OF DEFENDERS

• Republican - ‘dethrone all kings’

• Catholic - ‘plant the true religion

• Military aid from France

• Reversal of 17th century land dispossession

IDEOLOGY OF ORANGE ORDER• Oppose loss of status

• Fear of massacre - repeat of 1641

UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS

UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Arrest and trial of William Jackson

1794 - agent from France

UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Arrest and trial of William Jackson

1794 - agent from France

• Viceroyalty of Fitzwilliam - promise of full Catholic relief - withdrawn

UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Not a natural alliance ideologically

UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Not a natural alliance ideologically

• United Irish an urban secular movement for political reform

UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Not a natural alliance ideologically

• United Irish an urban secular movement for political reform

• Defenders a rural Catholic movement for political reform but also social and religious revolution

UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Very successful - 000s of Defender

took United Irish oath 1795, 1796

ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?

ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?• Need for allies after Diamond

ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?• Need for allies after Diamond

• Social deference - rural gentry had sided with Orange Order

ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?• Need for allies after Diamond

• Social deference - rural gentry had sided with Orange Order

• Need for defence from state oppression

John Beresford, august 1796: ‘We are in a most desperate situation; the whole north, Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Galway, Dublin city and county ready to rise in rebellion; an invasion invited by ambassadors; our militia corrupted; the dragoons of Ireland suspected; the United Irishmen all organised; the people armed; while we are without military stores, magazines etc., and where things will end God only knows, but our heads are in no small danger I promise you’

THREAT TO STATE?

THREAT TO STATE?

• Both state and United Irishmen prone to exaggeration

THREAT TO STATE?

• Both state and United Irishmen prone to exaggeration

• A coalition of disparate elements

THREAT TO STATE?

Disparate ideologies - Poor Man’s Catechism, United Irish propaganda

p.7: ‘no man shall be deprived of his property by others’

p.8: ‘there shall be a division of the ancient estates among those descendants of those Irish families who were pillaged by English invaders’