ARTEFACT In this 14.3: The 1798 Rebellion Ireland 1798 Rebellion
Tandy/Ray September 1798
Bompart October
1798
Lough Swilly
Rutland Island
Humbert August 1798
Killala Mayo
Killala Bay
Castlebar Ballinamuck Tara Meath
Dunboyne Naas
Kildare Dublin Tallaght
The Curragh Baltinglass Arklow
Wicklow Carlow
Goresbridge Vinegar Hill
New Ross
Carnew Gorey
Wexford Wexford
Ballynahinch Down
Antrim Antrim
topic, you will learn about:
The 1798 Rebellion in: Dublin and
surrounding counties Wexford Ulster
Connacht
Bantry Bay
Hoche 1796
Locations of battles in the 1798 Rebellion
The year 1798 marked a signifi cant turning point in Irish history. It was the fi rst time that physical force nationalism emerged on the island. This means that nationalists were prepared to use violence to fi ght for Irish independence from Britain.
1. Leinster: Dublin and surrounding counties
The rebels had planned that the rebellion would be signalled by the disruption of the mail coaches from Dublin. However, most of the rebels in the capital were arrested when they arrived at their assembly points, thanks to information supplied by spies. There were rebel attacks in Kildare, Meath, Carlow and Wicklow, but they were largely uncoordinated. They were easily defeated by the British in battles at Carlow town and the Hill of Tara.
2. Ulster
In Antrim, Henry Joy McCracken led 4,000 mostly Presbyterian rebels into battle on 6 June. The rebellion there collapsed following their defeat at Antrim town. In Co. Down, Henry Munro led 7,000 rebels to initial success at Saintfi eld, but they too were defeated over two days’ fi ghting – the longest battle of the whole rebellion – at Ballynahinch.
