Ireland by WW1

By assessing Ireland's role in WWI, we gain a clearer insight into why events in 1916 occurred and why post-war Ireland was so tumultuous.

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"War abroad meant peace at home. It was one of the paradoxes of modern Irish history that the outbreak of war in Europe may have prevented conflict in Ireland in 1914."— (Pennell, 2012)

Reaction in Ireland to the Outbreak of World War I

• On 28 June 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a member of the Serbian nationalist group, the Black Hand.
• This assassination triggered a chain of events that eventually led to the outbreak of World War I. German troops invaded neutral Belgium on 4 August 1914, and in response, Britain declared war on Germany. The start of the war abruptly shifted attention away from the ongoing Home Rule crisis in Ireland.

• Ireland was drawn into the war effort as part of the United Kingdom. For Unionists, particularly in Ulster, the war was an opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty to Britain.
• Sir Edward Carson, a key Unionist leader, called on the Ulster Volunteers to join the British army and defend the British Empire. This was seen as a way to reinforce their commitment to the Union and to counteract any moves towards Home Rule.
• On 20 September 1914, John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP), addressed a gathering of Volunteers at Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow. Redmond took a step further than Carson by encouraging all Irishmen—nationalists and unionists alike—to support the British war effort by enlisting in the army.
• He believed that Irish participation in the war would strengthen Ireland's position within the United Kingdom and ensure that Home Rule would be implemented after the war.
• On 3 August 1914, Redmond spoke in the House of Commons, expressing his belief that the Irish Volunteers would defend Ireland from a German invasion and that Ireland's support for the war would lead to greater autonomy within the Empire.
• He famously stated, "The Catholics in the South will be only too glad to join arms with the armed Protestant Ulstermen in the North. It is too much to hope that out of this situation there may spring a result which will be good, not only for the Empire, but good for the future welfare and integrity of the Irish Nation."
• Redmond viewed the war as an opportunity for Ireland to advance its political aims, believing that "England's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity." He hoped that by supporting Britain in its time of need, Ireland would be rewarded with Home Rule after the war.
• However, his stance was controversial. While many nationalists supported Redmond, others, especially more radical elements, opposed the war and believed that Ireland should not participate in what they saw as an imperial conflict.
• The Irish Volunteers split over Redmond's support for the war. The majority, between 150,000 and 170,000 men, followed Redmond and became known as the National Volunteers.
• They were led by Colonel Maurice Moore and aligned themselves with the British war effort. However, a significant minority, between 9,500 and 11,000 men, broke away under the leadership of Eoin MacNeill and retained the name Irish Volunteers.
• This faction refused to support the war and adopted a more radical stance, ultimately leading to their involvement in the Easter Rising of 1916.
• Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), including Bulmer Hobson, Thomas MacDonagh, and Joseph Plunkett, were influential in this breakaway group.
• They believed that the war presented an opportunity to strike against British rule in Ireland while Britain was distracted by the conflict on the continent.

Irishmen Go to War

• It is estimated that approximately 200,000 Irishmen fought in World War I. By the outbreak of the war, around 30,000 Irishmen were already serving in the British army, in regiments such as the Leinster Regiment, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and the Connaught Rangers.
• Irish soldiers participated in some of the earliest and most significant battles of the war, including the Battle of Mons.
• As the war dragged on, more Irishmen joined the British forces. The newly appointed Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, launched a recruitment drive throughout Britain and Ireland, and it is estimated that over 50,000 Irishmen joined the army in the first few months of the war.
• Men enlisted for various reasons:
  • Some felt it was their duty to show loyalty to the British Crown.
  • For many, the army provided a steady job and income, which was particularly appealing during a time of widespread poverty and unemployment in Ireland.
  • The arguments persuaded others of leaders like Redmond and Carson, who saw participation in the war as a way to serve the broader cause of Home Rule or the Union.
  • A significant number joined out of a sense of adventure or a desire to escape the difficult conditions at home.
• Over 30,000 men from Ulster responded to Carson's call and joined the 36th Ulster Division, a unit that allowed Ulster men to serve alongside their own officers and with Unionist emblems.
• About 32,000 National Volunteers also signed up after Redmond requested that an Irish division be created for all soldiers, North and South.
• However, the British War Office refused this request, and instead, the 10th and 16th Irish Divisions were formed.
• These divisions included both regular units of the Dublin and Munster Fusiliers, as well as new recruits, and fought in several key battles, including the Gallipoli campaign and battles in France.
  • Irish soldiers suffered heavy losses during the war, particularly in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, where the 36th Ulster Division lost over 5,500 men.
  • The memory of the Somme remains a significant part of the Ulster Unionist identity. Meanwhile, the 10th Division faced severe challenges in the ill-fated Gallipoli landings of 1915, and the 16th Division fought in several battles in France between 1916 and 1917.

Impact of the War on the Economy

• The war had a mixed impact on the Irish economy. On the one hand, it brought prosperity to Irish farmers, especially due to the German U-boat campaign that led to a surge in demand for Irish food products such as beef, butter, and eggs.
• With no price controls in place, some Irish farmers took advantage of the situation by selling lower-quality goods at higher prices. This led to resentment among British consumers, and after the war, there was a reluctance to buy Irish produce.
• In other sectors, the war boosted industries, particularly in the North, where the linen and shipbuilding industries thrived due to the demand for war supplies.
• The war also provided steady income for many Irish families through the separation allowance given to soldiers' wives and families, which was especially important in Dublin's tenements.
• However, the benefits of the war economy were not evenly distributed. A ban on emigration during the war years led to increased unemployment, and inflation made life harder for many workers, who saw their wages fail to keep up with rising prices.
• Overall, while some sectors of the Irish economy prospered during the war, others suffered, leading to a complex and uneven economic impact across the country.
• This economic disparity contributed to the social tensions that would come to the fore in the years following the war, particularly during the Irish War of Independence.

The Decline of Redmond

• In September 1914, Redmond was at the pinnacle of his career, but his success was short-lived. As the war progressed and casualties mounted, the initial enthusiasm for the war effort waned. By Christmas 1914, it had become evident that the conflict would be prolonged.
• Redmond and the Home Rule Party had secured Home Rule, but only on paper. No government was established in Dublin, and the issue of Ulster remained unresolved.
• Many nationalists were horrified by the idea of partition, and Redmond appeared unable to prevent it. Consequently, the passage of the Home Rule Act was perceived by many nationalists as an empty victory.
• In June 1915, a coalition government was formed that included Liberals, Conservatives, and Ulster Unionists. Redmond and Carson were invited to join the cabinet.
  • Carson accepted and was appointed Attorney General, but Redmond declined, aware that nationalists would be dissatisfied if he served in a government where Home Rule had yet to be implemented.
  • Instead, he adhered to the party's tradition of remaining in opposition and turned down a cabinet position.
  • This may have been a poor decision, as Redmond lost the chance to increase his political influence, while Carson, by participating, had a seat at the decision-making table.
  • Redmond did manage to persuade Asquith not to include Ireland when conscription was introduced in Britain in 1915, but support for the Home Rule Party continued to dwindle.

Concluding the information above

• Over 200,000 Irishmen fought in the war, and around 35,000 lost their lives. While the efforts of these soldiers have often been overshadowed by events like the Easter Rising and the journey towards independence, there has been more recognition of their contributions in recent years. For example, both the 1916 Rising and the Battle of the Somme were officially commemorated in 2016.
• Redmond's unwavering support for the war ultimately cost him dearly. By 1916, he had lost his political influence both in Ireland and in London.
• This created a void in nationalist politics, which was soon filled by a new generation of radical nationalists who believed that Home Rule was no longer sufficient and that only a republic could fulfil Ireland's aspirations.
• The events of 1916 were pivotal in reshaping the political landscape of Ireland.