20th Century Period of Ireland

The Anglo-Irish Agreement: A Brief History and Overview

In 1985, the British and Irish governments signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement, a landmark accord aimed at addressing the political conflict in Northern Ireland. The agreement recognized the legitimacy of the Republic of Ireland's interest in Northern Ireland and...
Terence O’ Neill (Baron ‘ Neill of the Maine)

Terence O’ Neill (Baron ‘ Neill of the Maine)

Terence Marne O’ Neill (1914-1990) was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the first of them who endeavored to reconcile Protestants and Catholics within the northern state and also to attempt a...

Republic of Ireland Act Is Signed in 1949

Republic of Ireland Act Is Signed in 1949

The Republic of Ireland Act was signed by the President of Ireland. It became law on 21 December 1948 and was brought into force on 18 April 1949, the 33rd anniversary of the Easter Rising. Since Eamon De Valera had...

Éire and World War II (1939-1945).

Éire and World War II (1939-1945).

During the 1930’s Europe was inching steadily towards war. The fascist states of Germany and Italy were in the process of expanding their empires. Stalinist Russia was in lock-down. The western democracies were in...

The establishment of Éire in 1937

The establishment of Éire in 1937

Although Eamon de Valera had fought for an Irish republic during the rising of Easter 1916 and later during the War of Independence 1919-1921 and on the anti-treaty side during the Civil War 1922-1923, he was able to...

The Irish War of Independence

The Irish War of Independence

The Irish War of Independence occurred between 1919 - 1921. In December of 1921, the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty between the Irish and British governments concluded the Irish war for independence. The war resulted in over 2,000 deaths and the creation of the...

Proclamation of the Irish Republic

Proclamation of the Irish Republic

POBLACHT NA hÉIREANN THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN: In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to...

1916 Easter Rising

1916 Easter Rising

The 1916 Uprising occurred on Easter Monday in Ireland lasting 6 days with over 12,000 British troops surrounding Dublin and the Irish republican leaders surrendering to stop further civilian causalities. It's considered the birth of an independent Irish Republic. The...

Seán MacDiarmada (1883 - 1916)

Seán MacDiarmada (1883 - 1916)

Seán MacDiarmada (also known as Seán MacDermott / John MacDermott) was a leading Irish republican who was involved with promoting the Irish language, the Gaelic revival, and Irish nationalism. As one of the signatories of the Irish Proclamation he was widely respected...

Thomas Clarke (1857-1916) - An Irish Nationalist

Thomas Clarke (1857-1916) - An Irish Nationalist

Thomas Clarke was a leading member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and main planner of the 1916 Easter Rising alongside Seán MacDiarmada. Thomas James Clarke was the second son of Sergeant James Clarke a Protestant Irish soldier serving in the British Army and...

Éamonn Ceannt (1881-1916) Irish Musician & Nationalist

Éamonn Ceannt (1881-1916) Irish Musician & Nationalist

Éamonn Ceannt was a leading Irish nationalist who helped with the revival of the Irish culture and also became involved with the planning of the 1916 Easter Uprising. He was one of the 7 signatures of the Proclamation of Independence from Britain. Edward Thomas Kent...

Padraig Pearse (1879 - 1916), Teacher, Poet, & Irish Nationalist

Padraig Pearse (1879 - 1916), Teacher, Poet, & Irish Nationalist

Patrick Pearse was born in Dublin on 10th November 1879 and whose full name is Patrick Henry Pearse or as probably preferred in Irish Pádraic Anraí Mac Piarais. He spoke Irish from an early age and became a member of the Conradh na nGaeilge (Gaelic League) and by when...

James Connolly (1868 - 1916),  A Socialist & Irish Republican

James Connolly (1868 - 1916), A Socialist & Irish Republican

James Connolly was born in Edinburgh’s Cowgate area in the parish of St. Patrick's, on the 5th June 1868. His parents, John and Mary were Irish Catholic immigrants who originally came from County Monaghan. Connolly was born into deep poverty, his father worked as a...

Ireland & The Outbreak Of World War 1.

Ireland & The Outbreak Of World War 1.

In the early years of the 20th century, the international scene was one of national and empirical tensions. The great powers of France, Germany, Russia, and Great Britain were vying with each other for power not only in Europe but in Africa and Asia. The moribund...

The Founding of Sinn Féin In 1905

The Founding of Sinn Féin In 1905

After the Parnell debacle of 1890, Irish nationalism, as a movement, was weakened by the lack of coherent leadership. It was a kaleidoscope of disparate groups, all following their own paths. The Gaelic league was gaining strength and harnessing the Irish people in...