The Liberator

Timeline

• 1798 — Defeat of the United Irish Rebellion. Arrest, trial and execution of its leaders, including Henry Joy McCracken. Trial and suicide of Wolfe Tone.
• 1801 — The Act of Union, passed by both the British and Irish parliaments, comes into force on 1 January.
• 1803 — Robert Emmet executed after leading an unsuccessful uprising.
• 1813 — Bill to give Catholics the right to sit in parliament defeated despite the expectation that full Catholic rights would soon follow the Act of Union.
• 1823 — Catholic Association founded, with O’Connell as its leading figure, to fight for Catholic rights.
• 1828 — O’Connell wins the Clare by-election, but cannot take his seat because he is a Catholic.
• 1829 — Catholic Emancipation Act passed.
• 1831 — National Schools system introduced.
• 1840 — Loyal National Repeal Association founded by O’Connell.
• 1841 — O’Connell given a hostile reception when visiting Belfast.
• 1843 — A series of ‘monster’ repeal rallies ends in October when O’Connell cancels the meeting at Clontarf.
• 1844 — O’Connell imprisoned for conspiracy.
• 1845 — The beginning of the famine which lasted until 1849.
• 1846 — Disagreements between O’Connell and the Young Irelanders over the use of physical force.
• 1847 — O’Connell dies.
• 1848 — Encouraged by rebellions in other parts of Europe, and desperate because of the famine, the Young Irelanders rise in rebellion.