Liam's Irish Traditional Music - A Constitutional Dilemma

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The First World War

The Home Rule. Bill became law on 15 September 1914, but was never implemented.  On 4 August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany, it was to last for four years.  A special Cabinet was formed; Redmond, the leader of the Irish Nationalists at Westminster was invited to Join, but refused to do so.  Carson, the leader of the Ulster Unionists, did join the War Cabinet.  This gave the Unionists a strong political position in British politics.  Ulster industry strengthened the Unionist cause further.  Both Nationalists and Unionists supported Britain during the war years and Redmond and Carson pledged support openly.  Some Irish Nationalists, in particular those with IRB connections, refused to, fight on the side of Great Britain. Not all Nationalists agreed that they should be involved in a war on behalf of the British Empire. Nevertheless, about a quarter of a million Irish people fought in the armed forces in the war, and 60,000 Irish soldiers were killed.

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