Ireland 1917-1918: Fuller Chronology

Authors: Prof. Ciaran Brady Dr Anne Dolan Dr Ciarán Wallace

Year Month Item

Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare on all shipping, 1917 February including merchant and neutral vessels. (1 February).

George Noble Count Plunkett wins North Roscommon by-election for 1917 February Sinn Féin. Abstains from Westminster.

P.M. Lloyd George commits to Ulster exclusion from Home Rule. 1917 February Redmond and his party withdraw from Westminster (7 March).

Revolution in Russia culminating in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II 1917 March (8 - 15 March)

1917 April USA declares war on Germany (6 April).

1917 April Ford Motor Co. begins construction of Fordson tractors in Cork.

Jailed Sinn Féin member Joseph P McGuinness wins South Longford 1917 May by-election by a narrow margin (9 May)

Major William Redmond MP, brother of John Redmond, killed in 1917 June action on the Western Front (7 June).

Demonstration in Dublin in support of 1916 prisoners. Police 1917 June inspector John Mills killed in disturbances (10 June).

Remaining 120 prisoners, sentenced for involvement in the 1916 1917 June Rising, released. Among them are Eoin MacNeill, Eamon De Valera, Constance Markievicz and Joseph P McGuinness (16 June).

1917 July Belfast Bank and London City & Midland Bank amalgamate (1 July).

Eamon De Valera (Sinn Féin) wins East Clare by-election by a large 1917 July majority (10 July).

The Irish Convention begins in Trinity College, Dublin - a final attempt 1917 July to resolve the Irish question by political means. Sinn Féin party abstains (25 July).

William T. Cosgrave (Sinn Féin) wins Kilkenny City by-election by a 1917 August large majority (10 Aug).

Thomas Ashe, IRB leader, jailed for participation in the Easter Rising and later for making seditious speeches - dies in Mountjoy Jail after 1917 September forced-feeding while on hunger strike. (25 September). A large funeral demonstration follows (30 September).

1917 October Ulster Bank merges with London County & Westminster Bank (3

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Ireland 1917-1918: Fuller Chronology

October).

Éamon de Valera elected President at Sinn Féin Árd-Fheis [general 1917 October meeting] (25 October). Change in Sinn Féin constitution, it now calls for an independent republic.

Éamon de Valera elected president of the Irish Volunteers (27 1917 October October).

Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky achieve power in Russia in the 1917 November 'October revolution' (6-7 November; [24-25 October, old-style calendar]).

1917 December Russia signs armistice with Germany at Brest-Litovsk (5 December).

At the Irish Convention, John Redmond loses the support of some 1918 January followers, and a Catholic bishop, over his stance on Home Rule finances (15 January).

Patrick Donnelly (Nationalist) defeats Sinn Féin candidate by large 1918 February majority in South Armagh by-election (2 February).

All men over 21, and most women over 30 years, gain the right to 1918 February vote in parliamentary elections (6 February).

John Redmond, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, dies in 1918 March London (6 March).

John Dillon elected chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Party (12 1918 March March).

1918 April Irish Convention meets for the final time (5 April).

Irish Catholic bishops’ committee protests at the government's 1918 April proposals on conscription (9 April).

P.M. Lloyd George introduces legislation to allow military conscription 1918 April in Ireland.

Raid on Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks in Co. Kerry. Two 1918 April attackers killed (13 April).

Mansion House conference in Dublin; Sinn Féin, IPP, Irish Labour 1918 April and All-for-Ireland League representatives agree on opposition to conscription. Catholic bishops support their action (18 April).

One-day general strike against conscription, well supported outside of 1918 April Ulster (23 April).

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Ireland 1917-1918: Fuller Chronology

Sinn Féin leadership arrested for involvement in the 'German Plot', an 1918 May alleged collaboration between Irish separatists and Germany (17-18 May).

Brinsley Macnamara's The valley of the squinting windows published 1918 May in Dublin.

Arthur Griffith (Sinn Féin) defeats nationalist candidate in East Cavan 1918 June by-election.

1918 June Ulster Unionist Labour Association formed.

Irish mail-boat Leinster sunk by German U-boat, over 500 fatalities 1918 October (10 October).

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