Ian McBride is the Foster Professor of Irish History at Oxford, while Catriona Kennedy and Liam Chambers teach Modern History and serve as heads of history departments at their respective universities. They discuss the spark behind the 1798 Irish Rebellion, fueled by the United Irishmen's desire for liberty, and the complex sectarian tensions at play. Betrayal by British spies contributed to its suppression. The legacy shaped future Irish nationalism, while the tragic fate of figures like Wolfe Tone adds a personal touch to this tumultuous history.
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18th Century Irish Stability and Tension
The 18th century in Ireland was stable compared to the 17th, marked by underlying tensions.
These tensions stemmed from power imbalances between the Catholic majority and the Protestant minority, exacerbated by discriminatory penal laws.
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Impact of Revolutions on Irish Politics
The American and French Revolutions profoundly impacted Irish political thought.
The American Revolution challenged the perceived superiority of the British Constitution, while the French Revolution inspired utopian ideals and the formation of the United Irishmen.
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Wolfe Tone's Early Life and Motivation
Theobald Wolfe Tone, from a Protestant background, was captivated by military spectacle from a young age.
His proposal for a military colony in Hawaii was rejected, fueling his resentment towards British authority.
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Published in 1689, 'Two Treatises of Government' is a seminal work by John Locke that critiques the divine right of kings and advocates for a government based on the consent of the governed. The first treatise refutes Robert Filmer's 'Patriarcha,' which argued for the divine right of kings, while the second treatise outlines Locke's theory of civil society, the state of nature, natural rights, and the social contract. Locke argues that legitimate governments derive their power from the consent of the people and that individuals have the right to rebellion if the government fails to protect their natural rights to life, liberty, and property. His ideas significantly influenced the American and French Revolutions and remain central to liberal political theory[2][4][5].
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the momentum behind rebellion in Ireland in 1798, the people behind the rebellion and the impact over the next few years and after. Amid wider unrest, the United Irishmen set the rebellion on its way, inspired by the French and American revolutionaries and their pursuit of liberty. When it broke out in May the United Irishmen had an estimated two hundred thousand members, Catholic and Protestant, and the prospect of a French invasion fleet to back them. Crucially for the prospects of success, some of those members were British spies who exposed the plans and the military were largely ready - though not in Wexford where the scale of rebellion was much greater. The fighting was initially fierce and brutal and marked with sectarianism but had largely been suppressed by the time the French arrived in August to declare a short-lived republic. The consequences of the rebellion were to be far reaching, not least in the passing of Acts of Union in 1800.
The image above is of Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763 - 1798), prominent member of the United Irishmen
With
Ian McBride
Foster Professor of Irish History at Hertford College, University of Oxford
Catriona Kennedy
Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of York
And
Liam Chambers
Head of Department and Senior Lecturer in History at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
In Our Time 