In 1905, an Irish journalist named Arthur Griffith founded a political organization called Sinn Fein, meaning "We Ourselves." The organization insisted that the Irish be allowed to govern themselves. The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), a secret organization that wanted a completely independent Irish republic, also became active in the early 1900s. Members of the IRB became known as republicans. In spite of opposition from Ulster Protestants, the British Parliament finally passed a home rule bill in 1914. But the outbreak of WWI (1914-18) prevented it from taking effect. Most of the Irish people supported Great Britain during the war. But the republicans, led by Patrick Pearse, believed that the war gave Ireland a chance to gain independence. They began a rebellion in Dublin on Easter Monday, 1916. Fighting raged for a week before British troops defeated the rebels. The British executed 15 republican leaders after the uprising. At first, the Easter Rebellion received little support from Ireland's people. But the executions created great sympathy for the republican movement. In 1918, the republicans gained control of Sinn Fein and won 73 of Ireland's 105 seats in the British Parliament. But instead of going to London to take their seats in Parliament, the new members met in Dublin. They called themselves the Dail Eireann (House of Deputies) and declared all Ireland an independent republic on January 21, 1919. Following the declaration, fighting broke out between the Irish rebels and British forces. In 1920, the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland act. This act divided Ireland into two separate countries - one consisting of six counties of Ulster (Antrim, Armagh, Derry/Londonderry, Down, Fermanagh & Tyrone) and the other consisting of three counties of Ulster (Cavan, Donegal & Monaghan) and 23 southern counties. Each country was to remain part of Great Britain and have some powers of self-government. The six Ulster counties, which had a Protestant majority, accepted the act and formed the state of Northern Ireland. But the Dail Eireann rejected the act, and southern Ireland began fighting for complete independence. The Irish Republican army (IRA), as the rebels were called, attacked British army installations and government buildings. The British responded with tough special police, who became known as Black and Tans because they wore black-and-tan uniforms. The Black and Tans were apparently extremely cruel in dealing with the rebels and were bitterly hated by the Irish people. Finally, in 1921, Great Britain and the Irish rebels agreed to a treaty that allowed southern Ireland to become a dominion (self-governing country) of Great Britain called the Irish Free State. The Irish people were sharply divided over the treaty that created the Irish Free State. One group, led by Eamon de Valera, wanted complete independence from Great Britain and union with NI. The other group, led by William T. Cosgrave, supported the treaty. In 1922, civil war broke out. But the fighting stopped in 1923, and the two groups formed opposing political parties. De Valera headed the Sinn Fein party, and Cosgave headed the Cumann na Gaedheal party. Cosgrave served as president of the Executive Committee that governed the Irish Free State from 1922 until 1932. His government improved the Irish economy and established close trade relations with Great Britain. In 1925, De Valera resigned from Sinn Fein and founded a new party called Fianna Fail. In the election of 1932, Fianna Fail gained control of the Irish Parliament, and De Valera became president of the Executive Committee. Between 1932 and 1937, De Valera cut most of the ties between the Irish Free State and Great Britain. He did away with the oath of allegiance to the British monarch, which all members of Parliament had breen required to take, and abolished the office of British governor general of Ireland. In 1937, De Valera's government adopted a new constitution that describe Ireland as a "sovereign, independent, democratic state." The constituion also reorganized the government, establishing the prime minister as head of government and the president as head of state. De Valera became prime minister. The Irish Free State remained neutral during WII (1939-1945) but thousands of Irishmen joined the British armed forces, some because of joblessness. In 1947, John A. Costello, the leader of the Fine Gael (formerly Cumann na nGaedheal) party, succeeded de Valera a prime minister of Ireland. On April 18, 1949, Costello's government cut all Ireland's ties with Great Britain and declared the country an independent republic. Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955. Finann Fail and de Valera returned to power in 1951, lost to Fine Gael and Costello in 1954, and then returned again in 1957. In 1959, de Valera resigned as prime minister and was elected president. Fianna Fail kept control of Parlaiment and Sean Lemass was appointed prime minister. Lemass retired in 1966, and John M. Lynch became prime minister. Lynch was reappointed following elections in 1959. Many people in Ireland and many Catholics in Northern Ireland still want their two countries reunited. After Northern Ireland became a separate country in 1920, armed bands from Ireland often raided Northern Ireland. The raids continued until 1962. In 1970, Ireland began negotiating for membership in the European Community, also called the European Common Market. By joining the organization, which promotes free trade among its member nations, Ireland hoped to expand its economy. Don - (See his post below, can anyone assist him?) - Many Irish went to Canada first because of cheaper passage or forced clearing of land by landlords, land offered at a better price, etc., but many ended up in the United States (some crossing the border by foot) for reasons that ranged from feelings of isolation (in some parts of Canada only French was spoken), vivid memories of losing family members upon immigrating and being quarantined in Canada after surviving disease-ridden "coffin ships," a hope of finding a warmer clime, less harsh environment, possibly better opportunities in America and/or to get away from any semblance of English rule. ---- Original Message ----- > From: "dondracek" <dondracek@charter.net> > To: <IRELAND-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 1:40 PM > Subject: [IRELAND] Vessels from Belfast > > > > I am curious ....if immigrants from County Down, Parish of Ballee, > > Ireland embarked from Belfast .... what vessels were used .... > April 1830 - 1832 > > ....what other ports could they have embarked from? > > My g.g. grandparents married in Parish of Ballee in 1830, came to > > St. Andrews NB, first child born in St. Andrews Sept. 1832. > > My grandparents names are ANDREW AND ANNIE (Smith) McGRAW. > > > > Don O in Georgia > > > > >