| Ireland's History |
| 1900 - 2000 |
| History - Part 5 |
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1916
The Easter Rising
On Easter Monday 1916, a group of Irish Volunteers enters Dublin. They
establish their headquarters at the General Post Office on O'Connell
Street. One of their leaders, Pádraig Pearse, declares that from that
day Ireland is a republic which will be (provisionnally) governed by
himself and his party. The rebels surrender after less than a week of
fighting. Although the rising is not well supported, the executions of
its leaders (Pádraig Pearse and James Connolly) |
stimulates the Irish
resistance. 1918 The republicans stand the General Elections under the
name of 'Sinn Féin', winning most Irish seats. Declaring an independent
Ireland, they create an Irish assembly which they call Dáil Eireann.
The Irish Volunteers, who became the Irish Republican Army (IRA) are
allowed to fight the British army on the Irish soil.
From 1919 From the Anglo-Irish war to the Republic and after... Jan.
1919 The Anglo-Irish War starts following the killing of two policemen
in County Tipperary. Michael Collins (1890-1922) is one of the most
important protagonists of the war against the Irish. During 2 ½ years,
the IRA will fight the Royal Irish Constabulary, British army soldiers
and two non-military groups, but with a quasi-military status (the
Auxiliaries and the Black and Tans).
22-06-1921 Creation of the Northern Ireland Parliament. 06-12-1921 The
Anglo-Irish Treaty gives independence to 26 counties of Ireland. Six
Ulster counties, essentially protestant, can choose on which side they
want to be.
1922 Creation of the Irish Free State Jan. 1922 The Civil war breaks
out as Michael Collins does not manage to persuade his colleagues to
accept the Treaty. He is killed in an ambush in County Cork. The Civil
War will come to an end in the following year.
1932 Fianna Fáil, the party created by Eamon de Valera, wins the
election. 1937 A new Constitution is created, which claims sovereignty
over the six counties of the North. 1948 Fine Gael declares the Irish
Free State to be a Republic after they win the general elections over
Fianna Fáil. 1949 Ireland leaves the British Commonwealth. The South
and the North are finally cut off. 1969 The Troubles begin. This is the
name which is given to the ongoing violent confict between Catholics
and Protestants in Northern Ireland. 1972 Ireland becomes a member of
the European Economic Community (EEC). 30-01-1972 Following a series of
protests and conflicts, the British army kills 13 civilians in Derry.
This day is referred to as Bloody Sunday. 1990 Mary Robinson becomes
the President of Ireland and contributes to the development of the
country, modernising its institution and adopting a less conservative
approach towards divorce and abortion. The 1990s see the development of
Ireland as the 'Celtic Tiger', as new technologies industries start to
settle in the country.
1997 Mary McAleese succeeds to Mary Robinson and has been the Irish
president since. Fianna Fáil's Bertie Ahern is elected as the Prime
Minister of Ireland. 10-04-1998 The Good Friday Agreement declares that
the people of Northern Ireland will decide on the political future of
Northern Ireland. It is endorsed both in the North and in the Republic
and provides steps to follow in view of the peace process. |
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