April 24 - Easter Rebellion

This Day in History: 24 April 2020

 

24 April 1916

 

104 years ago, today, on Easter Monday in Dublin, the Irish Republican Brotherhood launched the Easter Rebellion, an armed uprising against British rule. The secret organisation was led by Patrick Pearse and consisted of Irish nationalists. They rioted and attacked British provincial government headquarters across Dublin and seized the capital's General Post Office. Afterwards, they proclaimed the independence of Ireland, which had been under the repressive control of Britain for centuries. By the next morning, they were in control of much of the city, but later that day, British authorities launched a counteroffensive. The uprising had been crushed by April 29.

 

Following the rebellion, Pearse and many other nationalist leaders were executed for their participation, causing them to be viewed as martyrs by many in Ireland. Armed protest still continued, and 5 years later, 26 of Ireland's 32 counties won independence with the declaration of the Irish Free State. However, as 6 still remained part of the United Kingdom, some nationalists were prompted into forming the Irish Republican Army to continue to struggle for full Irish independence. In the 1960s, the pro-Catholic side of the IRA battled British troops, sparking a series of terrorist bombings and attacks. The group finally gave up their weapons in July 2005 and continued to strive for independence through peaceful means.

 

Want to find out more about the Easter Rebellion? Click here for more information.