Timeline of Irish Republican History and Key Events

IRB Revival

Rejuvenation of the IRB in 1903-04.

Sean MacDermott

Key organizer for IRB recruitment and activities.

Sinn Fein

Political party aiding IRB recruitment efforts.

Gaelic League

Cultural organization contributing to IRB membership.

Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)

Sports organization involved in IRB recruitment.

Padraig Pearse

Notable IRB member recruited by MacDermott.

Eammon Ceannt

IRB member, significant in rebellion planning.

Joseph Plunkett

IRB member, key figure in Easter Rising.

Tom Clarke

IRB member arrested for bomb-making in 1883.

Clann na Gael

Group where Clarke learned bomb-making skills.

Treason-felony

Charge leading to Clarke's life sentence.

Penal servitude

Clarke's punishment involving hard labor.

Solitary confinement

Clarke's prison condition for fifteen years.

Aging leadership

Cause of IRB's dormancy by the 1890s.

Bombing campaign

IRB's violent actions in England during 1870s-80s.

Irish Volunteer Force (IVF)

Counterforce to Unionists, established November 1913.

Eoin MacNeill

Leader of the IVF, IRB infiltrated his organization.

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)

Unionist group prompting the creation of IVF.

Home Rule

Political goal prompting the formation of IVF.

IRB control

IRB took command of IVF's 180,000 members.

Physical force

Means aimed for achieving an Irish Republic.

Nitro-glycerine

Explosive substance Clarke was caught with.

Fifteen years

Duration of Clarke's imprisonment before release.

Premature aging

Effect of solitary confinement on Tom Clarke.

National Volunteers

160,000 Irishmen who joined the war effort.

Irish Volunteer Force (IVF)

Counterforce to the Ulster Volunteer Force, established 1913.

Eoin MacNeill

Leader of the Irish Volunteer Force.

Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB)

Secret society controlling the IVF for rebellion.

Clann na nGael

American group supporting the IRB financially.

James Connolly

Leader of the Irish Citizen Army during Dublin Lockout.

Dublin Lockout

1913-1914 workers' strike against poor conditions.

Jim Larkin

Leader of Dublin workers during the Lockout.

Irish Citizen Army

Group formed to combat police brutality.

Cumann na mBan

Women's organization supporting the IRB.

William Martin Murphy

Owner of Employers' Organisation during Dublin Lockout.

Infant Mortality Rate

Dublin had the highest in Western Europe.

Cholera and TB

Diseases rampant in Dublin during the Lockout.

Clarke's Tobacco Shop

Meeting place for the IRB in Dublin.

Easter Rising

Rebellion planned by the IRB in 1916.

IRB Military Council

Group that planned the Easter Rising.

MacDermott

Key figure in the IRB Military Council.

Secrecy

Characteristic of Clarke and MacDermott's activities.

Rebellion Advocacy

Clarke pushed for an early rebellion.

Dublin Workers

20,000 involved in the Dublin Lockout.

Medical Care in Dublin

Poor quality, contributing to high mortality rates.

Rebellion Control

IRB aimed to control the IVF for uprising.

Military Council

Leadership group of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).

Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa

Old IRB leader whose funeral inspired Padraig Pearse.

Padraig Pearse

Headmaster and nationalist, key figure in IRB.

Blood Sacrifice

Pearse's concept linking sacrifice to Irish freedom.

Clarke and MacDermott

IRB members who encouraged Pearse's funeral speech.

Funeral Oration

Pearse's speech at Rossa's funeral, a propaganda moment.

'Ireland unfree shall never be at peace'

Pearse's famous quote emphasizing Irish independence.

Joseph Plunkett

Poet who sought German support for Irish cause.

Clann na nGael

Irish-American organization aiding Irish independence efforts.

Sir Roger Casement

Journalist sympathetic to Irish plight, sought German aid.

'Worse than African colonialism'

Casement's description of Irish conditions under British rule.

Double Agent

Casement's sailor lover reported his plans to British.

Woodenbridge Speech

Redmond's call for Irish support in World War I.

Irish Volunteer Force (IVF)

170,000 members joined war effort after Woodenbridge Speech.

Disillusionment with War

Increased dissatisfaction among Irish as casualties rose.

German Invasion

Casement sought German support for potential invasion.

Home Rule

Legislation that failed to satisfy Irish nationalist aspirations.

Propaganda Moment

Event used to influence public opinion or morale.

Ongoing War Effort

Context for Pearse's speech, enhancing its urgency.

Romance with Christiansen

Casement's distraction that compromised his mission.

Communication Line

Plunkett established from Berlin to Dublin via Washington.

Casement's Compromise

Loss of trust from Germans due to his actions.

Impact of War on Republicanism

War casualties increased support for Irish Republicanism.

First World War

Conflict starting on 4th August 1914.

Republicanism

Political ideology gaining support during the war.

Clarke and MacDermott

Leaders of the rebellion during WWI.

IRB

Irish Republican Brotherhood, a revolutionary organization.

England's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity

IRB belief exploiting British wartime distractions.

Howth Gunrunning

Arms landing event on 26th July 1914.

IVF

Irish Volunteer Force involved in gunrunning.

Erskine Childers

Organizer of Howth Gunrunning operation.

1,500 rifles

Amount of rifles landed during Howth Gunrunning.

45,000 rounds

Amount of ammunition landed during Howth Gunrunning.

Easter Rising

Rebellion against British rule in April 1916.

Practice Risings

Military rehearsals for the Easter Rising.

IPP

Irish Parliamentary Party, reassured authorities about insurrection.

Connolly Joins Military Council

James Connolly pledges ICA to IRB in January 1916.

Irish Citizen Army

Group led by Connolly, joined IRB for rebellion.

Cumann na mBan

Women's organization supporting the IRB and rebellion.

3rd May 1916

Date executions of rebels began post-Easter Rising.

Ninety sentenced to death

Number of rebels sentenced after a brief trial.

Sixteen executed

Final number of rebels executed after the trial.

Francis Skeffington

Pacifist journalist wrongly executed during the Rising.

Augustine Birrell

Chief Secretary reassured about no armed insurrection.

British authorities

Failed to act during Howth Gunrunning incident.

Easter Rising

Armed insurrection in Dublin from April 24-30, 1916.

Tom Clarke

One of the leaders executed after the Rising.

Padraig Pearse

Leader who surrendered on April 29, 1916.

Thomas McDonagh

Final member of the Military Council before Rising.

Joseph Plunkett

Executed leader involved in the Easter Rising.

William Pearse

Executed brother of Padraig Pearse.

Eammon Ceannt

Executed leader who held Jacob's Factory.

Sean MacDermott

Executed leader involved in the Rising.

James Connolly

Executed leader, socialist and trade unionist.