Famine and Emigration

The history of 19^th century Ireland is dominated by the Great Famine of 1845-48, which was caused by the total failure of potato crop. Although Irish grain was still being exported to England, more than one million people died from hunger or disease, with even more fleeing to North America. By 1900, the pre-famine population of eight million had fallen by half. Rural hardship fuelled a campaign for tenant’s rights which evolved into demands for independence from Britain. Great strides towards “Home Rule” were made in Parliament by the charismatic politician Charles Stewart Parnell.

1800

1800 Act of Union: Ireland legally becomes part of Britain

1803 Uprising, led by Robert Emmet, is crushed after feared Napoleonic invasion of England fails to materialize

1810

1815 First coach service begins in Ireland

1817 Royal Canal is completed

1820

1829 After a five-year campaign by Daniel O’Connell, Catholic emancipation Act is passed, giving a limited number of Catholics the right to vote

1830

1838 Father Mathew founds temperance crusade – five million Irish take abstinence pledge and whiskey production is reduced by half

1840

1845 Start of Great Famine, which lasts for dour years

1848 Failure of the Young Ireland Uprising – a spontaneous response to insurrections elsewhere in Europe

1850

1853 Dublin Exhibition is opened by Queen Victoria

1860

1867 Irish – Americans return home to fight in a rising led by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, also known as the Fenians

1870

1877 Parnell becomes leader of the new Home Rule Party

1879 – 82 Land War, led by Michael Davitt’s Land League, campaigns for the reform of tenancy laws

1880

1881 Parnell is jailed in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin

1884 Founding of Gaelic Athletic Association, first group to promote Irish traditions

1886 Brisith PM Gladstone sponsors first Home Rule Bill but is defeated by Parliament

1890

1892 Second Home Rule Bill is defeated