Loyalism in Development

THE EASTER RISING

The planning for the Easter rebellion, or uprising (rising), has its origins in the secret, radical organisation called the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). The organization was founded in 1858 and though it had virtually stagnated by the start of the 20th century, most of its new and more radically nationalist membership would soon become the key organisers of the rebellion. In order to recruit a force large enough to challenge British military might, the IRB began to agitate for the founding of a military organisation following the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force. As such, leaders within the IRB encouraged the formation and recruited the leadership of the Irish Volunteers, which were officially formed in 1913. On Easter Monday, 24 April, 1916, around 1,800 volunteers led by Patrick Pearse and James Connolly seized the General Post Office and other key buildings around Dublin and proclaimed themselves to be the provisional Government of the Irish Republic. The rebels held their posts for one week before they surrendered, overwhelmed and outlasted by British Army reinforcements.

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