List of Irish uprisings facts for kids

Irish Uprisings: A History

For hundreds of years, people in Ireland have fought against control by England and later Great Britain. These fights are called uprisings, rebellions, or sometimes even revolutions. They happened because Irish people wanted to rule themselves.

At first, these uprisings were often about powerful families trying to keep their lands and traditions. But after the Irish Rebellion of 1798, the fights became more about creating an independent Irish republic. This meant Ireland would be its own country, separate from Britain.

After the Irish War of Independence in the early 1920s, most of Ireland became a self-governing area called the Irish Free State. However, six counties in the north remained part of the United Kingdom, forming Northern Ireland. Since then, most of the fighting has happened in Northern Ireland, though some has occurred elsewhere.

Early Rebellions (1500s - 1600s)

In the 1500s and 1600s, many Irish leaders and clans fought against English rule. These were often about land and power.

Silken Thomas and the Desmonds

• 1534 – Silken Thomas Rebellion: Silken Thomas led a rebellion in Dublin. He was part of a powerful family called the FitzGeralds of Kildare. They wanted to keep their power in Ireland.
• 1569–83 – Desmond Rebellions: The FitzGeralds of Desmond, another strong family, led two big rebellions in the south of Ireland. They fought against English attempts to take their land and control the region.

The Nine Years' War

• 1593–1603 – Nine Years' War: This was a very long and important war. It was led by powerful Irish chiefs like Hugh Ó Neill and Hugh Roe Ó Donnell. They fought to stop English control over all of Ireland. They lost, and this led to more English settlement in Ireland.

Rebellions in the Mid-1600s

• 1641 – Irish Rebellion of 1641: This rebellion started with Irish Catholics trying to take back land and rights. It quickly spread across the country.
• 1642–52 – Irish Confederate Wars: This was a huge conflict that followed the 1641 rebellion. Irish Catholics formed their own government, called Confederate Ireland. They fought against English and Scottish armies.

The Williamite War

• 1689–91 – Williamite War: This war was part of a bigger fight across Europe. It was between supporters of King James II (who was Catholic) and William of Orange (who was Protestant). Many Irish Catholics supported King James, hoping he would restore their rights. They lost this war, which led to even stricter laws against Catholics in Ireland.

The Road to Independence (1700s - 1900s)

As time went on, the reasons for uprisings changed. People started wanting a completely independent Ireland.

The United Irishmen

• 1798 – Irish Rebellion of 1798: This was a major rebellion led by the Society of United Irishmen. They wanted Ireland to be a republic, like France or America. They fought bravely but were defeated.
• 1800 – United Irish Uprising in Newfoundland: This shows how far the ideas of the United Irishmen spread. Even in Newfoundland, a British colony, Irish people rebelled.
• 1803 – Irish Rebellion of 1803: Another attempt by the United Irishmen, led by Robert Emmet. It was quickly put down.
• 1804 – Castle Hill Rebellion: This rebellion happened in Australia. It was led by Irish convicts who had been sent there after the 1798 rebellion. They tried to escape and fight for freedom.

Young Ireland and the Fenians

• 1848 – Young Irelander Rebellion: A group called Young Ireland tried to start a rebellion. It was a small uprising in County Tipperary and didn't last long.
• 1866–71 – Fenian Raids: The Fenian Brotherhood was a group of Irish nationalists, especially strong in America. They launched attacks on Canada, which was then part of the British Empire. They hoped to pressure Britain to leave Ireland.
• 1867 – Fenian Rising: The Fenians also tried to start a rebellion in Ireland and England. It was not successful.

The Easter Rising and War of Independence

• 1916 – Easter Rising: This was a very important event. Irish rebels took over key buildings in Dublin during Easter week. They declared an Irish Republic. The rising was put down, but it inspired many more people to fight for independence.
• 1919–22 – War of Independence: After the Easter Rising, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) fought a guerrilla war against British forces. This war eventually led to the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Modern Times (1920s - Present)

After Ireland was divided in 1922, most later conflicts happened in Northern Ireland.

The Troubles

• 1969–98 – The Troubles: This was a long and difficult conflict in Northern Ireland. It involved different groups, including the Provisional IRA, fighting for a united Ireland, and British security forces, as well as loyalist groups who wanted to remain part of the UK. It caused a lot of sadness and violence.
• 1998–present – Dissident Irish republican campaign: Even after the peace agreement that ended The Troubles, some smaller groups continue to carry out attacks. They do not agree with the peace process.

See also

• List of conflicts in Ireland
• Military history of Ireland
• Irish nationalism
• Irish republicanism
• Uprisings led by women