List of Irish uprisings


Since the 16th century, there has been a series of uprisings against British rule in Ireland. These uprisings played a major role in the formation of Irish nationalism and republicanism. After the Irish Rebellion of 1798, such uprisings became more revolutionary and republican in nature. Following the Irish War of Independence, the partition of Ireland and the creation of the autonomous Irish Free State in twenty-six of Ireland's thirty-two counties in 1922; with the exception of the Irish Civil War, most but not all subsequent insurgent activity in Ireland occurred within the six counties of Northern Ireland, which continued to be part of the United Kingdom.
YearLocationConflictOrganiser
1534Lordship of Ireland Silken Thomas RebellionFitzGeralds of Kildare
1569–73Kingdom of Ireland First Desmond RebellionFitzGeralds of Desmond and allied clans
1579–83Kingdom of Ireland Second Desmond RebellionFitzGeralds of Desmond and allied clans
1593–1603Kingdom of IrelandNine Years' WarHugh Ó Neill, Hugh Ó Donnell and allied clans
1608Kingdom of Ireland O'Doherty's rebellionSir Cahir O'Doherty
1641Kingdom of IrelandIrish Rebellion of 1641Phelim Ó Neill, Rory Ó Moore, Conor Maguire, Hugh Óg MacMahon
1642–52Kingdom of IrelandIrish Confederate WarsIrish Catholic Confederation
1689–91Kingdom of IrelandWilliamite WarJacobites under James II of England
1798Kingdom of IrelandIrish Rebellion of 1798Society of United Irishmen
1799–1803Kingdom of Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Michael Dwyer's guerrilla campaignMichael Dwyer and his followers
1800Newfoundland ColonyUnited Irish UprisingSociety of United Irishmen
1803United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Irish rebellion of 1803Society of United Irishmen
1804Castle Hill, Colony of New South WalesCastle Hill RebellionSociety of United Irishmen
1848United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848Young Ireland
1866–71British North America
Fenian RaidsFenian Brotherhood
1867United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, England, and CanadaFenian RisingFenian Brotherhood
1881–85United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandFenian dynamite campaignFenian Brotherhood
1882–83United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and British Cape Colony The Invincibles' AssassinationsIrish National Invincibles
1916United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Cumann na mBan
1939–40EnglandSabotage CampaignIrish Republican Army
1942–44Republic of Ireland-United Kingdom borderNorthern CampaignIrish Republican Army
1956–62Republic of Ireland-United Kingdom borderBorder CampaignIrish Republican Army
1969–98Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great BritainThe TroublesProvisional Irish Republican Army, Irish National Liberation Army, Official Irish Republican Army, Continuity Irish Republican Army, Real Irish Republican Army, Irish Peoples Liberation Organisation
1998–presentNorthern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great BritainDissident Irish republican campaign 1998–presentContinuity Irish Republican Army, Real Irish Republican Army, Óglaigh na hÉireann, Republican Action Against Drugs, New Irish Republican Army

Ireland

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  • Uprisings and counter-revolutions
    Uprisings and counter-revolutions
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