Mutinies and Gun Running

Below is some important context for the political and social situation in Ireland pre-WWII. It really evidences the turmoil that Ireland faced in the 1910s and provides a solid prelude to the events of 1916.

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The Curragh Mutiny

• The Curragh Mutiny, which took place in March 1914, was a critical event in the Home Rule crisis that underscored the deep divisions within British society and the military over the issue of Home Rule for Ireland.

  • The mutiny occurred at the Curragh Camp, the main military base in Ireland, located near Dublin. The event was precipitated by the British government's consideration of using the army to enforce Home Rule in Ulster, where Unionists fiercely opposed it.
  • Rumours spread that the government might order British troops to suppress Unionist resistance, potentially leading to armed conflict.
  • In response, Brigadier-General Hubert Gough and other senior officers at the Curragh made it clear that they would rather resign than take action against the Unionists.

• This stance, supported by many other officers, was seen as a direct challenge to civilian control over the military—a cornerstone of democratic governance.

• The crisis came to a head when Gough and his officers were informally assured by the Secretary of State for War, J.E.B. Seely, that the army would not be used against the Unionists.

• This assurance, later known as the "Curragh Incident," effectively amounted to a refusal by parts of the British Army to obey orders should they be required to act against the Ulster Volunteers.

• The incident revealed the extent of Unionist influence and the British government's reluctance to enforce Home Rule in the face of potential military resistance.

• The Curragh Mutiny was significant because it highlighted the fragility of British control over its own army in Ireland and demonstrated the lengths to which Unionists—and their supporters within the military—were willing to go to prevent Home Rule.

"The army cannot be used as a mere instrument of coercion in Ulster." - Brigadier-General Hubert Gough

The Larne Gun Running

• The Larne gun-running was a major event that took place on the night of 24–25 April 1914 and involved the smuggling of a large cache of arms into Ulster by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).
• This operation was carried out in direct response to the growing threat of Home Rule and was intended to arm Unionists for the possibility of armed conflict.
• The event underscored the seriousness of Unionist opposition and the lengths they were willing to go to defend their position.
• The operation was meticulously planned and executed with military precision. The UVF, under the leadership of James Craig and Fred Crawford, successfully landed around 25,000 rifles and 3 million rounds of ammunition at the port of Larne, a small town on the northeastern coast of Ireland.
• The arms had been purchased from Germany, highlighting the Unionists' willingness to collaborate with foreign powers to achieve their aims.
• The weapons were then distributed across Ulster, significantly strengthening the UVF's ability to resist Home Rule.
• The British authorities, who had been caught off guard, did little to intervene, further emboldening the Unionists.
• The success of the Larne gun-running operation was a major propaganda victory for the UVF and demonstrated the Unionist resolve to resist Home Rule by force if necessary.
  • The event also had a significant impact on Irish nationalists, who realised that they, too, would need to arm themselves to protect their interests.
  • This realisation contributed to the subsequent Howth gun-running, as nationalists sought to counterbalance the military power of the Unionists.

"We have taken all the steps necessary to equip Ulster to fight for its freedom." - Fred Crawford

The Howth Gun Running

• The Howth gun-running took place on 26 July 1914 and was a direct response by Irish nationalists to the success of the Larne gun-running earlier that year.
• Organised by the Irish Volunteers, the Howth operation was aimed at arming nationalists in preparation for a potential confrontation with Unionists or British forces over the issue of Home Rule.
• The operation involved the landing of a shipment of 900 Mauser rifles and 29,000 rounds of ammunition at Howth, a small fishing village near Dublin.
• The arms were purchased in Germany by the nationalist Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and smuggled into Ireland on the yacht Asgard, owned by Erskine Childers, a committed nationalist.
• The Howth gun-running was a bold and risky operation, carried out in broad daylight to maximise publicity and encourage nationalist support.
• As the Volunteers began transporting the weapons to Dublin, they were intercepted by the British Army, which attempted to seize the arms.
• However, the Volunteers managed to successfully distribute most of the rifles before being confronted. This incident led to a clash between the Volunteers and the British troops, resulting in a few casualties but no significant losses of weapons.

  • The Howth gun-running had a profound impact on the nationalist movement. It not only demonstrated the Irish Volunteers' determination to resist Unionist threats and British authority but also boosted their morale and membership.

    

  • The event also intensified tensions between nationalists and the British government, contributing to the volatile atmosphere that would eventually lead to the Easter Rising in 1916.

"We are ready to fight for Irish freedom, and Howth is proof of our resolve." - Erskine Childers