Irish Spring
A leprechaun leap through some Irish history
Monday was St. Patrick’s Day. It’s been a long standing tradition in the O’Boyle household, going back to when I was a kid, to have Reuben sandwiches and then when I was a little bit older a few pints of Guinness. This year was no different, although the last few years my family has altered it a bit and we have Reuben fries; my own recipe nonetheless that includes a Swiss beer cheese made with Guinness. Who knows, maybe after all this fbi stuff is done I’ll finally start that food truck. This year was special in that my brother and I were able to spend some time with our cousin. It was certainly the best St. Paddy’s Day I’ve had in a long time. I mentioned the two of them in last week’s post when I harkened back to our hooping days. OK, I’m already getting off track 😂
The Irish flag is a vertical tricolor of green, white, and orange, with green at the hoist side, and it symbolizes the inclusion and union of Catholic’s (represented by the color green) and Protestants (represented by the color orange), with white symbolizing peace and unity between the different traditions. According to Ireland’s government, Thomas Francis Meagher first flew the flag in March 1848 and in April said of it, "The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between Orange and Green and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood."
Presently, the Irish are in perhaps the most precarious situation they’ve been in for some time. Now, however, it isn’t Catholic vs. Protestant, but it is that generous and heroic clasping of hands that Meagher talked about nearly 200 years ago. Only, it is the people united, regardless of their religious or other beliefs, against a corrupt and tyrannical government. On Monday, former UFC champion Conor McGregor was in our nation’s capital where he gave a very impromptu press conference. In part he said, “Our government has long since abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland. And it’s high time that the people of America are made aware of what is going on in Ireland.
But, before we touch on the current situation for the Irish and the increasing government tyranny that they are faced with, we first will move as rapidly as a leprechaun to a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow through a few hundred years of their history. Which, hopefully, will help unravel how they have found themselves under the thumb of a government that uses “arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority” as many before it.
More than two hundred years before the tricolor first flew, in October 1641, a rebellion was initiated by Catholic gentry and military officers who were reacting against decades of discriminatory policies and the loss of their lands under the plantation system. This rebellion had been brewing for at least a century. The Tudors, who’s reign was marked by the Reformation, began their conquest of Ireland in the 1540s. The first plantations, which involved the confiscation of Irish-owned land and colonization by British settlers, started in the 1550s.
By 1641, resentment of the British, Protestant settlers, amidst plans for new plantations across the country, a bad harvest, and increasingly volatile political situation had grown to an all time high. Initially planned as a swift coup to seize key strongholds like Dublin Castle, the uprising quickly spiraled into widespread violence. The rebellion saw massacres of Protestant settlers in areas like Ulster and led to the formation of a de facto alternative government—Confederate Ireland—in 1642, which sought to secure religious toleration and greater self-governance.
The rebellion of 1641 evolved into the prolonged Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1653), which became part of the wider Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The Catholic Confederation, representing a broad coalition of Irish Catholics, fought against English and Scottish forces. This conflict was marked by brutal violence and heavy loss of life. The culmination came when Oliver Cromwell led a ruthless military campaign from 1649 to 1653, resulting in mass killings, widespread confiscation of Catholic lands, and long-lasting demographic and social changes.
The plantation policies, the rebellion of 1641, the ensuing Confederate Wars, and Cromwell’s brutal re-conquest collectively transformed Ireland—from a land of predominantly Gaelic, Catholic society into one marked by deep political, social, and cultural divisions between a dispossessed Catholic majority and a Protestant, settler-dominated minority. The violent conflicts of the 1600s led to the near-total dispossession of the Catholic landed elite and the entrenchment of a Protestant Ascendancy. These events deeply scarred Irish society—seeding enduring sectarian tensions that would later influence events well into the modern era, including the struggles and conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries.
From the 17th century through to the eve of the Irish War of Independence in 1918, a complex interplay of political, social, and cultural forces deepened divisions in Ireland. Cromwell’s campaign not only crushed Catholic resistance but led to systematic confiscation of lands from Catholic landowners. The remaining Irish population was forcibly relocated or reduced to less fertile lands. This marked a profound restructuring of Irish society, with a Protestant minority, often descendants of settlers, emerging as the dominant landowning class.
In the decades after Cromwell’s campaign, a series of Penal Laws were enacted to ensure that Irish Catholics and dissenting Protestants remained politically and economically marginalized. These laws excluded Catholics from holding public office, serving in the military, or accessing higher education and many economic opportunities. This legal framework entrenched sectarian divisions that would persist for centuries.
In the wake of the Cromwellian settlement, the Protestant landowning elite (the Ascendancy) consolidated power. They controlled vast estates, while the majority Catholic population, although still the largest numerically, was mostly disenfranchised and economically marginalized. Despite the harsh restrictions, the 18th century saw gradual social and economic changes. The growth of trade and the Enlightenment in Britain influenced some in Ireland. However, the legacy of dispossession and the long-term economic disadvantages of the Catholic majority continued to sow discontent.
In 1801, following a series of rebellions and political maneuvering, the Irish Parliament was abolished, and Ireland was merged with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This Union further centralized political power in London and increased feelings of alienation among many Irish, especially Catholics. After decades of protest and political struggle led by figures like Daniel O'Connell, the process of Catholic emancipation culminated in 1829. This granted Catholics the right to sit in Parliament and hold public office, marking a significant—but incomplete—step toward equality. Yet, the deep scars of centuries of discrimination were not easily healed.
The Great Famine (1845-1852) was a watershed moment in Irish history. Over a million people died and another million emigrated. The famine intensified grievances: many Irish saw it as the inevitable result of a system that prioritized export agriculture for the benefit of a distant ruling elite, leaving the native population vulnerable. This catastrophe amplified nationalist sentiment and a sense of collective trauma.
The latter half of the 19th century witnessed the Land War—a bitter struggle over tenant rights and land reform—as Irish tenant farmers sought to gain fair rents and security of tenure. Alongside these economic battles, a Gaelic revival emerged, as writers, poets, and cultural nationalists worked to reclaim and reinvigorate Irish language, history, and identity in the face of anglicization.
By the early 20th century, the call for Home Rule—a measure to grant Ireland self-governance—had gained significant momentum, driven by a newly awakened nationalist movement. The political debate over Home Rule exacerbated divisions: many Irish nationalists, largely Catholic, saw it as a path to full independence, while many Protestants, particularly in the north, feared that a self-governing Ireland would be dominated by a Catholic majority hostile to their economic and cultural interests.
This period saw the rise of organizations such as the Gaelic League, the Irish Volunteers, and the Irish Citizen Army, which mobilized mass support for nationalist causes. The memory of historical injustices—land confiscations, the famine, and decades of political exclusion—fueled a determination among many Irish to assert their national identity.
Tensions reached a boiling point with the events of the 1916 Easter Rising, a dramatic, though initially unsuccessful, insurrection against British rule. Although the Rising was suppressed, the execution of its leaders and the harsh response by British authorities shifted public opinion dramatically. By the time of the 1918 general election, support for Irish independence was widespread, setting the stage for the War of Independence that followed.
On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, approximately 1200 members of the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, and other nationalist groups seized key buildings in Dublin, including the General Post Office (GPO), which became the de facto headquarters of the rebellion. Leaders like Patrick Pearse, James Connolly, and Joseph Plunkett declared an independent Irish Republic.
Although the insurrection was poorly coordinated and quickly suppressed by British forces, its symbolic impact was immense. The dramatic proclamations of independence and the subsequent harsh British response—particularly the execution of the Rising’s leaders—galvanized public sentiment. Initially unpopular, the Rising’s memory became a rallying point for nationalists. The brutal British repression led to widespread public sympathy for the rebels. What had begun as a small, somewhat isolated uprising grew into a potent symbol of resistance and a catalyst for political mobilization in the years that followed.
In the 1918 general election, the nationalist party Sinn Féin achieved a landslide victory in Ireland. Rather than taking their seats in the British Parliament, they established a revolutionary Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) and declared independence. This political mandate provided a foundation for armed struggle. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) emerged as the military wing of this new revolutionary state. Under a decentralized, guerrilla warfare model, the IRA engaged British forces in hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and sabotage campaigns.
The War of Independence was marked by a fluid and irregular form of warfare. British forces—comprising the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), British Army units, and the notorious Black and Tans—responded with brutal reprisals, leading to a cycle of violence. These tactics, while causing significant casualties on both sides, ultimately proved unsustainable for the more conventional British forces.
As the conflict dragged on, mounting political pressure and the cost of continuous violence led both sides to the negotiating table. A ceasefire was agreed upon in July 1921, setting the stage for the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. The Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed in December 1921, granted dominion status to the Irish Free State—a self-governing entity within the British Empire. However, the treaty also required an oath of allegiance to the British Crown and allowed for the partition of Ireland, with six predominantly Protestant counties in the north remaining part of the United Kingdom.
While the treaty represented a major step toward Irish self-governance, it was also deeply divisive. Many nationalists viewed the compromises as a betrayal of the ideal of full independence. The Irish Civil War, thus, broke out in June 1922, as former comrades turned against each other. The conflict was characterized by bitter, internecine fighting that pitted former revolutionaries against one another. Guerrilla tactics and urban warfare, particularly in Dublin, were common.
By May 1923, the Anti-Treaty forces were decisively defeated. The victory of the pro-treaty side, however, came at the cost of prolonged bitterness and division within Irish society. Despite the civil conflict, the pro-treaty government succeeded in establishing the Irish Free State in December 1922. The new state provided a degree of self-governance, with its political institutions laying the groundwork for later developments toward full republic status.
The treaty’s provision for partition resulted in the creation of Northern Ireland, which remained under British rule. This division sowed the seeds for future sectarian conflict and has continued to influence political and social relations on the island. In 1937, a new constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) was adopted, replacing the 1922 Free State constitution. This document redefined the state as “Éire” (or Ireland) and laid the ideological foundation for greater independence. Although the state did not immediately become a republic, it asserted a stronger national identity and more control over its internal affairs.
Ireland’s tricolor flag was flown over the General Post Office, which served as the rebel HQ, during the 1916 Rising, was adopted as the flag of the Irish Free State in 1922, and formally confirmed as the National Flag in the 1937 Constitution. In 1948, following a declaration by the government, Ireland formally left the British Commonwealth by declaring itself a republic. This move, finalized in 1949, symbolized the culmination of the process of severing constitutional ties with Britain, even though the state’s evolution had been gradual. 100 years after it first flew, and throughout years of tumult, Ireland, sans the northeastern portion, was once again under its own rule.
From this period, through the 1960s, efforts to revive the Irish language, literature, and arts persisted. State support for cultural initiatives helped reframe the narrative of Irish identity around traditions and history that distinguished Ireland from its colonial past. From the 1970s onward, Ireland began shifting from a protectionist economy to one that embraced free-market reforms and foreign direct investment. Joining the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973 was a turning point, opening up access to European markets, funding, and modern economic practices.
The late 1960s until 1998 brought more conflict as well. Growing demands by the Catholic/nationalist minority in Northern Ireland for civil rights—stemming from long-standing discrimination in housing, voting, and employment—led to tensions with the Protestant/unionist majority. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, these tensions escalated into a violent conflict known as the Troubles. Characterized by bombings, shootings, and sectarian violence, the Troubles involved paramilitary groups (like the IRA and loyalist organizations), the British Army, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The conflict resulted in over 3,500 deaths and deeply polarized communities.
After decades of violence, negotiations gained momentum in the 1990s. The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, was a landmark in the peace process. It established a devolved power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, laid out mechanisms for disarmament, and set the stage for reconciliation between communities. While the Good Friday Agreement significantly reduced violence, sporadic tensions and political disputes have persisted. Issues such as policing, parading, and cultural commemoration continue to test the fragile peace.
Economically, the mid-1990s to the late 2000s was marked by rapid economic growth, dramatic increases in foreign investment, and significant improvements in living standards. The so-called “Celtic Tiger” years transformed Ireland from a relatively poor nation into one with a high-income economy. Modernization of infrastructure, technology, and education contributed to this economic boom.
After the global financial crisis of 2008, Ireland faced economic challenges that led to austerity measures and a period of recovery. However, the country has since regained economic stability, diversifying its economy and strengthening its role in the global market. In recent decades, Ireland has experienced significant social change. Referendums on issues like divorce, abortion, and same-sex marriage have transformed the country’s social landscape, reflecting a shift toward progressive values and a more pluralistic society.
This shift, 177 years after the tricolor flag was first flown, has begun to start a new resistance to tyranny in Ireland. A resistance where “the hands of Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood" perhaps like never before. Many Irish agree with Conor McGregor’s statement on St. Paddy’s day at the White House that their “government has long since abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland.”
One of the key issues for the people of Ireland right now is a massive influx of immigrants and so called refugees. From 2023-2024 Ireland saw roughly 300,000 people enter their country. That may seem like a small number here in the US, but for a country that just surged past 5 million total resident’s in 2022 for the first time since the Great Famine in the 1800s, it is causing increasing strain on the native Irish. It is also leading to growing tensions. In 2023 there were 600 protests regarding the immigration issue. Which was double from the year before.
The rapid pace of change caused by the immigration issues and the challenges of integrating diverse communities have raised concerns among many citizens. Critics argue that public services, such as housing, healthcare, and education, are stretched, and that more robust integration policies are needed to ensure social cohesion. Indeed the housing situation in Ireland has already come to a boiling point.
More and more skilled young professionals are leaving the country, as they can no longer afford to build a future at home. Essential workers in education and healthcare face challenges finding housing in urban areas. Meanwhile, companies are purchasing properties for their employees, intensifying an already overheated housing market.
The video above is from Irish legacy media and of course paints the protestors as far right, racist, bigoted, hateful, and other negative ways. Of course though, that is how the media is even here. It doesn’t take much digging to find numerous examples though of just how out of hand the immigration issue has become and how it has rightly exacerbated many Irish citizens. These examples also show the growing tyranny and police state nature that Ireland is faced with.
https://x.com/RadioGenoa/status/1829207564858622241
https://x.com/NatCon2022/status/1901619168757023199
https://x.com/Mick_O_Keeffe/status/1871290690442784804
https://x.com/BligheDerek/status/1888717511748669667
https://x.com/NiallMcConnell5/status/1901626952827502876
https://x.com/Mick_O_Keeffe/status/1867207625114611904
https://x.com/PeterPaulGuy/status/1783635635665858831
https://x.com/Mick_O_Keeffe/status/1746901937843282219
Next, there’s the public perception of how Ireland’s government handled COVID-19. Surveys and studies from the post-pandemic period have revealed that nearly 75% of people in Ireland believe that the government's handling of COVID-19 was driven more by a desire to protect its own reputation rather than by public health or the welfare of citizens.
This perception centers on the rapid imposition of lockdowns, stringent restrictions, and the communication strategies adopted by government officials during the crisis. Critics suggest that some measures may have been overly cautious or imposed without adequate consultation, leading to a legacy of distrust.
Just over a week ago the government began releasing date related to COVID and their policies, as well as implementing a broader government push to shift the blame away from themselves. They’ve begun calling for an “evaluation” of how they handled COVID and indicating that no one, including themselves, should be “demonized” for what was done during a stressful time for everyone.
Lastly, there’s the case of Enoch Burke (and others like him) who have resisted tyranny on the trans agenda front. Burke is a teacher who has been jailed for refusing to use the preferred pronouns of one of his students. His refusal to comply with a lie and a myth has led into a years long court battle. Most recently, the government froze his bank account. Burke is a Christian who is standing for truth in the public square.
Ireland today is navigating a complex array of challenges that echo both historical legacies and contemporary global trends. The cumulative effect of these issues is a society that, while economically dynamic and culturally vibrant, faces significant challenges in terms of social cohesion, political trust, and balancing the legacy of its past with the demands of a rapidly changing world. In a way, it is as Ireland has been for centuries. For that matter, how most countries have been for centuries.
“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.” -Isaiah 59:14-16
Another great history lesson from the professor! What this article said to me was throughout history only the names and places change. Whether is is Catholics and Protestants, Shia or Sunni, there has always been religious strife and violence. Great Famines, Plagues, or Covid. Unchecked immigration and government abuses. History repeats itself and we sadly never learn.
I’m just always amazed at the continual cycle of tyranny, from the Israelites to present day…but what an encouragement to see men like Enoch Burke take a stand. The remnant. Thanks for sharing all the insight! Love you! ;)