THE 1916 RISING

1. THE 1916 RISING

2. HOME RULE DECLINE • The Home Rule party began to decline after 1914 because when the third bill was passed, it had no purpose. Some Nationalists wanted partition and disliked Redmond’s enthusiasm for the war. The War Office clearly favoured Unionist recruits and discriminated against Nationalists.

3. PLANNING REBELLION • THE VOLUNTEERS SPLIT: Following Redmond’s speech at Woodenbridge, urging Irish Volunteers to join the British Army, MacNeill split from the group along with about 11,000 Volunteers. • RE-ORGANISATION: The Irish Volunteers organised in military style. Many members were also involved in the IRB. MacNeill seemed unaware of this. • MACNEILL’S ATTITUDE: MacNeill only wanted rebellion if the British introduced conscription.

4. PLANNING REBELLION • THE IRB: The IRB went against this and decided to use the Volunteers in a rebellion against the British. • CASEMENT: Roger Casement tried to persuade the Germans to recognise Irish independence, send a force and recruit an Irish Brigade. He had moderate success as the Germans only agreed to supply guns and equipment and Casement recruited only a few dozen soldiers. • CONNOLLY: He began to make independent plans for rebellions. The Volunteers feared that he might provoke the British, so persuaded him to join them.

5. IDENTIFY 6 KEY FACTS ABOUT PATRICK PEARSE • Born in Dublin 1879 and educated at the Christian Brothers. • Cultural Nationalist (Gaelic league) rather that militant. • Set up St Enda’s College in Rathmines, Dublin to educate boys in English and Irish. • Favoured liberal education rather than the exam based murder machine. • Interest in Home Rule saw Pearse become a spokesman for the republican movement. • Pearse believed that physical force was needed to gain independence from Britain.

6. BLOOD SACRIFICE • Pearse believed in the need for a violent revolution to win Irish independence. • Death could be a positive thing. • BLOOD SACRIFICE – A death could act as an inspiration for the Irish nation to rise up and take back its independence.

7. DOCUMENT QUESTIONS: ‘Peace and the Gael’ by Patrick Pearse What does Pearse say about events in Europe at this time? In your view, is this an accurate description of the situation? Explain your answer. According to Pearse, what benefit does fighting in battle have for the world. In what way does Pearse romanticise death as a ‘most glorious’ thing? …the last six months have been the most glorious in the history of Europe. It is good for the world that such things should be done. The old heart of the earth needed to be warmed with the red wine of the battlefields. Such august homage was never before offered to God as this, the homage of millions of lives given gladly for love of country…

8. PRELUDE TO REBELLION

9. THE EASTER RISING • IN DUBLIN: • Volunteers and Citizen Army soldiers took several buildings in Dublin but failed to capture Dublin Castle. • The British moved troops into Trinity College and Dublin Castle and got reinforcements from Britain and the Curragh. They bombarded the GPO and by Friday, the area was in flames. After failing to flee the city, Pearse and Connolly ordered an unconditional surrender. • ELSEWHERE: • Because of no or conflicting orders, people were reluctant to rebel. There was some fighting in North Dublin/South Meath, Enniscorthy and Wexford.

10. EFFECTS OF THE RISING

11. WRITE A PARAGRAPH ON TWO OF THE FOLLOWING: Please use your notes and textbook • Patrick Pearse – p24, 25, 26 • Roger Casement and the securing of arms – p28, 29 • Plans for the 1916 Rising – p28, 29, 30 • The aftermath of the Rising – p35,36