A History of Ireland in Song

1803 Rising

The United Irishmen, defeated, reduced in strength and numbers, their best leaders dead or fled, yet withal still unbowed, prepared after defeat in Ninety-eight to strike once more in the cause of Ireland's freedom. It was common knowledge that the war between France and England, to which the peace of Amiens had put only a temporary halt, would soon break out again; and it was widely believed that when that war did resume, an invasion by Napoleon either of Ireland or England would surely be attempted. In view of this, prospects for a new rising seemed excellent:

The French had promised a large expeditionary force.
There was also an understanding with, and guarantees of co-operation from, the revolutionary societies in Scotland.
Finally, there were pledges from men of the highest social, military and political standing in Ireland to aid the movement with money, moral and other backing.

And so, if ever an effort for Irish liberty seemed destined to succeed, it was that to which Robert Emmet found himself committed when he returned to Ireland, after his "Grand Tour" of the continent, in the Autumn of 1802. His primary object was to get the country organised and armed, ready to co-operate with the French landing. Emmet's own work was mainly confined to Dublin, but he was in close touch with the men of Wexford.

On the 16th July an explosion took place in a house in Patrick Street, which the United Irishmen had taken as a depot for arms and explosives. This event made the leadership — Robert Emmet, William Dowdall, Philip Long and John Allen — regard the discovery of their plans as imminent, and they felt compelled to fix an earlier date for the Rising, without waiting for the promised French help. Assurance came from all over the country that if Dublin rose the rest of Ireland would speedily follow. Saturday 23rd July was the day now set for the Rising.

On that day, two Palmerstown magistrates were shot and wounded at Arran Quay on the orders of Emmet, to prevent the disclosure of now imminent Rising. From the afternoon on, United Irishmen from Dublin and all over Leinster, many of them veterans of '98 began assembling in public houses. At five, Emmet briefed his officers, and preparations continued. By then, the first skirmishing had begun.

By half-eight that evening, it became clear that the elaborate plans had miscarried, no more than a fraction of the men expected having assembled, and Emmet reduced the scope of the rising. Around half-nine, Emmet read an extract from proclamation, and, his sword drawn, set off for Dublin Castle at the head of 200 men armed with pikes and blunderbusses — but without alerting the rest of the rebels by the agreed rocket signals. Part of this small band of men, in truth little more than a mob, took it upon themselves to do to death Lord Kilwarden, the Chief Justice, who happened to be passing through the streets in his coach at the time. Emmet, seeing that his bid to establish an Irish Republic had degenerated into a bloodthirsty riot, abandoned the attempt, and went into hiding.

Although the rising in Dublin had miscarried, the rest of the country still awaited the promised French expeditionary force. But despite the best efforts of Thomas Addis Emmet, Robert's brother, in negotiates with the agents of France's First Consul, Napoleon Bonaparte, the French aid was not forthcoming, and the rising was still-born.

Robert Emmet went into hiding using various safe houses, before being caught at Harolds Cross. He was speedily tried and executed. His speech from the dock immortalised him in Irish folk memory. The concluding period is especially famous: "When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then let my epitaph be written." His epitaph remains unwritten.

A History of Ireland in Song

1803 Rising

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