Irish Home Rule

An uprising in Ireland in 1916 by nationalists, who wanted ‘home rule’ – an Irish republic independent of Britain – led to decades of argument and violence.

Most people in the north of Ireland, known as Ulster, wanted to stay part of United Kingdom while the majority of people in the south wanted an independent Ireland. In 1916, republicans in Dublin rose in rebellion on Easter Monday. After four days, they were forced to surrender. In 1918, nationalist Sinn Fein members set up an Irish parliament, the Dail Eireann. This led to war between the military wing of Sinn Fein (later called the Irish Republican Army, or IRA) and the British. In 1921, Michael Collins agreed a deal with the British. The deal made most of Ireland independent, but left out the six countries of Northern Ireland. This led to more fighting. Collins was assassinated.

In 1949, Ireland became a republic. The IRA continued to fight for a united Ireland, an aim fiercely resisted by Unionists in Northern Ireland. In 1998, a ceasefire (the Good Friday Agreement) bought hope for a peaceful solution to this ancient dispute.