Ireland and World War 1

While the figures are currently inconclusive, it is estimated that about 210,000 Irishmen served in the British forces during the war. Over 35,000 were killed. Others enlisted in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, though the numbers are approximate at present.

Division Over Home Rule

Ireland was tense in the lead-up to the outbreak of the war due to the split over Home Rule. The third Home Rule Bill passed through the British parliament on 25 May 1914. However, there was staunch opposition to it amongst unionists. They had founded the Ulster Volunteers to oppose Home Rule and the Irish Volunteers were founded to support it. In September 1914, it was agreed that Home Rule would be postponed until after the war, thereby avoiding the potential for conflict between the two sides.

Members of both volunteer organisations joined-up in their thousands. The Ulster Volunteers wished to show their loyalty in the hope that Home Rule would be abandoned. The Irish Volunteers split, with most – an estimated 180,000 – heeding the call of John Redmond, leader of the Home Rule Party, to support Britain in the war. About 12,000 refused to do so. A small number of those were involved in the 1916 Rising, which was planned in response to the war. Its leaders believed that Britain’s involvement in the conflict favoured the cause of independence and they sought help from Germany in planning the rising.

Recruitment

Before the war, 9% of the British army was Irish. At the beginning of hostilities, there was much propaganda in Ireland about the plight of Belgium, a small Catholic country. German atrocities against Belgian civilians – which did occur – were emphasised and at times exaggerated to encourage men to enlist. The implicit connection was made between fighting for Belgian freedom and that of Ireland.

Recruitment in Ireland remained voluntary throughout the war and an analysis of the statistics shows that it was generally in line with trends in Britain in the early stages of the conflict. However, recruitment declined especially after 1916. Conscription was introduced in Britain in that year and when the government attempted to enforce it here in 1918, there was overwhelming opposition from all sections of society, including the Catholic Church. The plan was dropped.

Irish Regiments

There were eight infantry regiments recruited in Ireland, each with a specific catchment area.

• The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers: Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh; depot in Omagh.
• The Royal Irish Rifles: Antrim, Down; depot in Belfast.
• The Royal Irish Fusiliers: Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan, Louth; depot in Armagh.
• The Connaught Rangers: Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon; depot in Renmore, Co. Galway.
• The Leinster Regiment: Longford, Westmeath, Meath, King’s Co. (Offaly), Queen’s Co. (Laois); depot was Crinkill Barracks, Birr.
• The Royal Dublin Fusiliers: Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Carlow; depot in Naas.
• The Royal Irish Regiment: Tipperary, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford; depot in Clonmel.
• The Royal Munster Fusiliers: Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Cork; depot in Tralee.

Each regiment consisted of a number of battalions and each battalion was composed of about 1,000 men.

In addition to the infantry regiments listed above, there were the Irish Guards, with their headquarters in London, and some cavalry regiments including the North Irish Horse and the South Irish Horse.

Irish Divisions

Regiments were grouped together in brigades and brigades in divisions. Irish regiments made up all or most of three divisions in the British army during the war. The 10th (Irish) Division served in Gallipoli, Salonika (Greece) and Palestine. The 16th (Irish) Division served on the Western Front, including at the Somme and around Ypres. The 36th (Ulster) Division also served on the Western Front and sustained very heavy casualties at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme.

Irish Politicians

Notable Irish Soldiers