| |
| 1884, Oct. 22 |
| |
| The first women ever to receive degrees in Ireland graduated from the Royal University of Ireland. | 1 |
| The growth of Irish nationalism can be seen in the rise in interest in the Gaelic language and Gaelic sports. The Gaelic Union for the Preservation and Cultivation of the Irish Language was established in 1880; the Gaelic Athletic Association, in 1884. Irish poetry and literature also flourished with Irish writers such as William Butler Yeats (1865–1939). | 2 |
| |
| 1885, Oct. 30 |
| |
| The battle over Irish independence intensified as Katherine O'Shea sent Gladstone a draft of Parnell's Home Rule constitution (Oct. 30). Gladstone refused to take a stand. The first Home Rule Bill (1886) for a separate Irish legislature failed under Conservative attack, joined by former Liberals like Joseph Chamberlain. | 3 |
| |
| 1886, Oct. 23 |
| |
| “Plan of Campaign” published in the Republican United Ireland. It included withholding rents on some estates, which was declared illegal. | 4 |
| |
| 1890–91 |
| |
| Parnell continued to have the support of the Irish Parliamentary Party despite growing rumors about his use of party funds and his being named in divorce proceedings between the O'Sheas. However, in the fall of 1890, the party split, with the majority opposing Parnell. Efforts at reconciliation failed in Feb. 1891. Parnell married Katherine O'Shea (June 1891) after the divorce but died in Oct. 1891. | 5 |
| |
| 1893, Sept. 9 |
| |
| The Second Home Rule Bill was defeated in the House of Lords after passing in Commons. | 6 |
| |
| 1894, April 27–28 |
| |
| The formation of the Irish Trades Union Congress marked the development of trade unionism within Ireland in the late 19th century. Trade unions became particularly effective in the transport industry under the leadership of James Larkin. Larkin organized a dock strike in Belfast in 1907. In 1908, the Irish Transport Worker's Union was founded. | 7 |
| Parliamentary reforms also attempted to address some of the problems in Ireland without dissolving the Union. The Irish Local Government Act (1898) created some elective county and district councils. The “Wyndham” Land Act (1903) and Birrell's Land Act (1909) provided the means for tenants to buy out landlords. The Evicted Tenants Act allowed estates commissioners to compel landowners to sell land to them for the resettlement of the evicted tenants. Tenants also received grants to repair buildings (1907). | 8 |
| |
| 1900, Jan. 30 |
| |
| The reunion of the Irish Parliamentary Party and the foundation of Cumann na Gaedheal by Andrew Griffith marked the continued demands for Irish independence. The latter joined the Dungannon Club (formed in Belfast, 1905) in the Sinn Féin League. | 9 |
| |
| 1904, Dec. 2 |
| |
| The Ulster Unionist M.P.'s, meeting at a conference in Belfast, formed the Ulster Unionist Council. Unionism and independence were becoming clearly delineated geographically and confessionally. By the time the Third Home Rule Bill was introduced in 1912, the Unionists had enough support for the debate to include a discussion of possibly excluding Ulster. | 10 |
| |
| 1911, Aug. 21 |
| |
| Formation of the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation, reflecting growing demands for voting rights. Women in Ireland had already received the right to sit as Poor Law Guardians. | 11 |
| |
| 1914 |
| |
| Home Rule bill passed Commons with an amending bill, which temporarily excluded portions of Ulster. The Lords changed the amending bill to exclude Ulster permanently. After a failed attempt to negotiate the impasse, Parliament turned its interests to the escalating warfare in Europe. It gained a promise of the Irish leader Redmond to support the British war effort, and the Home Rule Bill was suspended for the duration. (See Ireland) | 12 |
| |
| |
