Ireland and World War I

● In August 1918 Germany declared war on GB

● In September Home Rule Bill became law but was suspended until the end of the war

Unionist Reaction to the war

● Unionist leaders called on their supporters to join the British Army

● Many members of the Ulster Volunteers enlisted

Nationalist Reaction to the war

● Some nationalists (e.g. Redmond) felt it was important to support GB in the war effort

● Others (e.g. McNeill) didn't feel Irish people should fight for Britain

● Extreme nationalists (e.g. IRB felt 'England's difficulty' was 'Ireland's opportunity'

● He felt that the war was justified and Britain should come to aid of France and Belgium

● He was also worried that if the Unionists supported the war effort and Home Rule Party didn't it would weaken their position in achieving Home Rule for Ireland as they would be seen as disloyal and ungrateful by the British government

● Redmond's son and brother both enlisted

Redmond and World War 1

Redmond's Woodenbridge Speech● John Redmond felt

Ireland should support the British war effort

● He made a speech in Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow where he urged members of the Irish Volunteers to join the British Army

Irish Volunteers split on issue of supporting Britain in WW1

● Irish Volunteers split● Majority (about

170,000) followed Redmond and became the National Volunteers

● Minority (about 10,000) followed Eoin McNeill and became the Irish Volunteers (included IRB people)

● About 200,000 Irishmen served in British Armed Forces in WW1

● About 30,000 died● 58,000 were already enlisted in the British

Regular Army or Navy before the war broke out-● Another 130,000 men were volunteers recruited

from Ireland for the duration of the war.● Of these 24,000 originated from the

Redmondite National Volunteers.● 26,000 joined from the Ulster Volunteers.

Irishmen in World War 1

Why did Irishmen serve in the British Armed Forces?

● Some believed the war was justified and it was morally right to come to rescue of France and Belgium

● Unionists joined hoping that if they supported the war effort the British government would reward their loyalty

● Nationalists joined hoping that if they supported the war effort the British government would reward their loyalty

● Others joined for economic reasons (needed the money)

Irish soldiers in the British army

● There had been 'Irish' Regiments in Britis army since the 1600s including: Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Connaught Regiment, Leinster Regiment

● Many of the Irish enlisting were sent to these or other regiments in the British army

New Irish Regiments● Kitchener created new regiments as a part of

the New Service Army● The 36th Ulster Division created for Irish

Unionists who often joined along with their UVF comrades

● This regiment was allowed to choose their own insignia and officers

● Redmond wanted a special Irish Regiment the Irish Volunteers who enlisted in the army

● The British eventually created the 16th Irish Division but this had mostly English officers

World War 1 and the Irish Economy● War led to an

economic boom for Irish farmers as prices for agricultural prices rose

● Shipbuilding, linen and other industries in Ulster and other factories in Ireland also benefitted from supplying material for the war effort

Opposition to the war● Many nationalist groups

and newspapers and magazines expressed opposition to the war including the Irish Volunteer, Sinn Féin, Worker's Republic, and Irish Freedom

● There was a big campaign against conscription when it looked like it was going to be introduced into Ireland in 1918

The impact of the war on John Redmond

● Redmond's reputation and political importance and influence declined during the war for a number of reasons

● Home Rule had still not been introduced● Partition was looking more likely● He stayed out of the British War Cabinet while

Carson joined it and seemed to be closer to the power brokers in the British government

● Many nationalists felt it was Britain's war not Ireland's but Redmond had encourage Irishmen to enlist

Cartoons dealing with Redmond and Partition