Liam's Irish Traditional Music - Irelands culture and tradition

From 1794 to 1796 was a time of great unrest in Ireland. The British government decided on a policy of coercion, or force. They sent in extra troops, increasing the number of British soldiers serving in Ireland to 140,000 over this period. Drafting in extra troops became the normal method of dealing with unrest in Ireland from this time onwards. Further plots were discovered in 1797 and 1798, and the army applied savage and systematic flogging of Irish people to obtain evidence of guilt. Throughout Ireland people ware tortured, arrested and shot. Landowners in Ireland saw the policy of coercion, and recognized the dangers it might bring. Thoughts of the French revolution made them fear for their lives.

The savage treatment of the people did not stop a planned uprising in 1798. This was easily crushed except in Wexford, where Catholics turned on Protestants and massacred many families. Wolfe Tone landed in Ireland, but was defeated, captured and committed suicide. Another member of the United Irishmen, Napper Tandy, escaped capture, and was remembered in the song, 'The Wearing of the Green".

Feelings ran high in these years, and colours were important in distinguishing different political viewpoints.

A Green Bonnet:

In May 1798, the narrator. Donned her bonnet of the previous season which was of bright green silk, Amid other signs of the times, "the wearing of the green" came to be regarded with suspicion and dislike by the authorities of the day. Of this however the wearer of the green bonnet was then quite unconscious. She was startled to hear, even other moment, a voice whispering, almost under her bonnet: "God bless your colour, ma'am!" She remarked that those who did not use this phrase regarded her with an angry scowl

Source: an interview of Mrs Anastasia, O'Byrne recorded in 1889, when she was over 100 years old. It was written down by W. J. Fitzpatrick Quoted in J. Carty (ed.) Ireland. 1783-1850, C. J. Fallon 1949

In Ulster, Protestants clashed with Catholics, and there were violent scenes between rival groups. There were rival, secret societies which had formed because of the need for agricultural reform. The Protestant "Peep O'Day Boys" and the Catholic Defenders shared similar problems, but could not agree on co-existence, because of sectarian differences. Government spies infiltrated the societies, and information extracted led. To further arrests, floggings and hangings.

A travelling gallows, which was used by British troops in Ireland, to suppress rebellion in 1798. Pitch-capping was also used as a means of torture. Pitch mixed with gunpowder was pressed over the scull and then set alight.

A Green String:

Here I found soldiers going about the country, burning the houses of suspected United Irishmen. Near to Armagh I met a group of Orangemen decorated with cockades. They were obliging everyone to take off every article of green they wore. I had a green string to my umbrella, and so, in fear lest I be mistaken. For a rebel, I cut it off.

Source: Le Chevalier de la Tocnaye, A Frenchman’s Walk Through Ireland, 1796-1797