Liam's Irish Traditional Music - Irelands culture and tradition

The Volunteers were of Protestant background and asked for constitutional reform. The United Irishmen, founded in 1791 and led by Wolfe Tone, appealed to Protestants and Catholics to join together and from an Irish revolutionary-party, based on French ideas. Two political, working-class clubs were started in Belfast and Dublin in the autumn of 1791, and the United Irishmen excluded any discussion, which might arouse sectarian differences. Their demands were similar to those of British radicals who wished for reform of the political system.

The connection with France, and with the French Revolution, caused the British government to view the United Irishmen as "Fifth Columnists" in Ireland, and as traitors. Anyone who supported French ideas was assumed to be a spy, for France and could be hanged for treason. New laws were passed in 1703, which suppressed political freedom, and the clubs were closed. In May 1794. Wolfe Tone was expelled from Ireland and went to France. He returned in 1796, at the head of an invasion force, hoping to established republic both in Ireland and in England. His plans were not to succeed, as his ships were battered by gale force winds. This was a particularly dangerous moment, and confirmed previously stated beliefs that Ireland should be British controlled territory. Tone tried again in 1797 and the expedition failed. France would not help any more, and so the Irish people rose in support of Tone by themselves in 1798.