Communities Remembering, Histories Divided

1. Communities Remembering, Histories Divided Dr. Ray Casserly

2. King James & King William War • The war between King James and King William largely took place in Ireland as King James, a Catholic, believed he was best placed to receive support here. King William arrived with his army in Carrickfergus after the start of the war in 1689 to banish the forces of King James. He first met them in battle on his southbound journey to Dublin at the crossing of the river Boyne. King William took the field on this day, and later at Aughrim, and Derry where he relieved the city from siege.

3. Mid-19th Century Famine (An GortaMor) • Ireland was decimated by a potato blight that struck the rural countryside. The majority of the peasantry largely depended on this vegetable for sustenance, thus the negative effects of the famine was predominantly felt by the peasantry. The peasantry in Ireland at the time were also predominantly Roman Catholic.

4. Home Rule/Ulster Covenant • Prior to the outbreak of World War I, political movements developed in Ireland which sought to address the Irish question. In Ulster, a Unionist movement formed under Carson. This movement created its own paramilitary force, the UVF, and sought to ensure by force of arms the Union with Great Britain. In the southern provinces, a Nationalist movement sought to achieve rights for home rule through parliament. However, in response to the raising of an Ulster Unionist paramilitary force, the Irish Parliamentary Party supported the ride of the Irish Volunteers.

5. World War I/1916 Rebellion • World War I started in Europe between the British/French allies and the German/Austrian forces. Both the paramilitary forces of the UVF and the Irish Volunteers were brought under the command of Lord Kitchener’s Third Army. The UVF became the 36th Rifle Division and the Irish Volunteers became the 10th and 16th Divisions. On Easter Monday, 1916, a breakaway detachment of the Irish Volunteers amalgamated with the Irish Citizen Army to instigate an unpopular rebellion in Ireland. The rebellion was brief with the leaders executed thereafter by the British.