UNIT TWO - Events - The Easter Rising

Early in 1914 Carsonite Volunteers with British sympathizers help ran large cargo of arms into Ireland. The British Government immediately prohibited the importation of arms into Ireland for fear the Nationalists would secure weapons that could be used against them.

The Irish then began to organize illegal shipments to Howth from the European continent. This was for a planned rising on Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday the Irish Republic was proclaimed in Dublin.

The Easter Monday Rising had no military prospects of success. There was the slight chance the Germans would break through England's defenses and allow help to be sent before the rising was crushed.

On Easter Monday morning, April 24, 1916 the Dublin battalions paraded with full arms and a day rations. just after noon, the General Post Office, the Four Courts, three railway terminals and other important points circling the center of Dublin were rushed and occupied. It was announced the establishment of the provisional government of the Irish Republic. Over night many other points of the city was taken over by rebels and by morning they controlled most of Dublin.

The British fought back on Tuesday when reinforcements arrived. Martial law was proclaimed in Ireland. The fighting in Dublin steadily removed the Irish from their positions. On April 29th the post office came under violent attack. The British soon realised they would not be able to conquer the Irish and that afternoon they surrender unconditionally.

The British leaders of the counter offense were put on trial when they arrived home in Britain. Most were executed, shot dead.

It is fair for Ireland to be its own country. There was no need for the British to want to control them and the organization of the Rising should that the Irish were able to do things on their own. The Irish knew that they could be their own country and if the Rising didn't occur then, it may have been more violent when it did later on.