06) armagh and defenders
TRANSCRIPT
UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794
UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Infiltration of militia
UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Infiltration of militia
• Initially successful, then suppressed
UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Other strategy - ally with Defenders
UNITED IRISHMEN AFTER 1794• Other strategy - recruit Defenders
• Urban middle-class movement - rural lower class movement
DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS
DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Clashes since mid-1780s
DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Clashes since mid-1780s in Armagh
• Defenders spreading into neighbouring counties
DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Escalation of clashes after 1793
Catholic Relief act, formation of militia
DEFENDERS VS PEEP O’DAY BOYS• Escalation of clashes after 1793
Catholic Relief act, formation of militia
• Battle of the Diamond 1795, North Armagh
AFTER DIAMOND
AFTER DIAMOND
• Protestant groups form Orange Order
• Cross-class permanent vigilante group
AFTER DIAMOND
• Expulsions of Catholics from North Armagh
AFTER DIAMOND
• Expulsions of Catholics from North Armagh
• To north Connaught, north Leinster
AFTER DIAMOND
• Expulsions of Catholics from North Armagh
• To north Connaught, north Leinster
• Galvanising effect - spreads sectarian conflict
• Orange Order also spreads - lodges in north Connaught, north Leinster
IDEOLOGY OF DEFENDERS
DEFENDER CATECHISM
'Are you concerned?''I am.''To what?''To the National Convention.''What do you design by that cause?''To quell all nations, dethrone all kings, and to plant the true religion that was lost at the Reformation.''Who sent you?''Simon Peter, the head of the Church.’
IDEOLOGY OF DEFENDERS
• Republican - ‘dethrone all kings’
• Catholic - ‘plant the true religion
• Military aid from France
• Reversal of 17th century land dispossession
IDEOLOGY OF ORANGE ORDER• Oppose loss of status
• Fear of massacre - repeat of 1641
UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS
UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Arrest and trial of William Jackson
1794 - agent from France
UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Arrest and trial of William Jackson
1794 - agent from France
• Viceroyalty of Fitzwilliam - promise of full Catholic relief - withdrawn
UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Not a natural alliance ideologically
UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Not a natural alliance ideologically
• United Irish an urban secular movement for political reform
UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Not a natural alliance ideologically
• United Irish an urban secular movement for political reform
• Defenders a rural Catholic movement for political reform but also social and religious revolution
UNITED IRISH JUNCTION WITH DEFENDERS• Very successful - 000s of Defender
took United Irish oath 1795, 1796
ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?
ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?• Need for allies after Diamond
ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?• Need for allies after Diamond
• Social deference - rural gentry had sided with Orange Order
ATTRACTION OF UNITED IRISH FOR DEFENDERS?• Need for allies after Diamond
• Social deference - rural gentry had sided with Orange Order
• Need for defence from state oppression
John Beresford, august 1796: ‘We are in a most desperate situation; the whole north, Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Galway, Dublin city and county ready to rise in rebellion; an invasion invited by ambassadors; our militia corrupted; the dragoons of Ireland suspected; the United Irishmen all organised; the people armed; while we are without military stores, magazines etc., and where things will end God only knows, but our heads are in no small danger I promise you’
THREAT TO STATE?
THREAT TO STATE?
• Both state and United Irishmen prone to exaggeration
THREAT TO STATE?
• Both state and United Irishmen prone to exaggeration
• A coalition of disparate elements
THREAT TO STATE?
Disparate ideologies - Poor Man’s Catechism, United Irish propaganda
p.7: ‘no man shall be deprived of his property by others’
p.8: ‘there shall be a division of the ancient estates among those descendants of those Irish families who were pillaged by English invaders’