In 1798, the Irish rose up against the corrupt English government run out of Dublin. Joined by both Protestants and Catholics, the rebellion quickly spread across the country. Although the Irish peasantry were armed mostly with pikes, they were able to overwhelm a number of small, isolated British outposts. However, even with the half-hearted assistance of the French, the Irish could not compete with the organized ranks of the British Army when under competent leadership. In a brutal turning of the tide, the Redcoats plowed through the rebels. In just three months, between 15,000 and 30,000 people died, most of them Irish. This book tells the story of this harsh, but fascinating, period of Irish history and covers the organization and uniforms of the forces involved.

In 1798, the Irish rose up against the corrupt English government run out of Dublin. Joined by both Protestants and Catholics, the rebellion quickly spread across the country. Although the Irish peasantry were armed mostly with pikes, they were able to overwhelm a number of small, isolated British outposts. However, even with the half-hearted assistance of the French, the Irish could not compete with the organized ranks of the British Army when under competent leadership. In a brutal turning of the tide, the Redcoats plowed through the rebels. In just three months, between 15,000 and 30,000 people died, most of them Irish. This book tells the story of this harsh, but fascinating, period of Irish history and covers the organization and uniforms of the forces involved.

This is the story of the Irish militia in the first period of its existence, the turbulent era of the French revolutionary wars from 1793 to 1802. The Irish militia has been much criticized, and its reputation has been much maligned, but there has been little sustained research into the force, which is redressed by this account. This book covers the organization, composition and embodiment of the militia, as well as dealing with weapons, commissions, perceptions of duty, loyalty of militiamen, leadership and discipline of the men. It sets the Irish militia in its context as a part of the British army of the time and comments on the poor training and discipline of this force as it confronted the French. The author reconsiders the operational performance of the militia and shows how it withstood the 1798 rebellion, which it ultimately defeated. Lapses of discipline are not glossed over, but neither are the numerous examples of personal bravery, and unit steadfastness. The result is a detailed and fascinating account of a much maligned force written by a soldier about soldiers who have been largely misrepresented and seemingly forgotten in Ireland.

This book includes chapters and supporting tables, maps, illustrations, and appendices on the organization and effectiveness of the militia, yeomanry, fencibles and regular regiments during the 1798 United Irish Rebellion and the French invasion later the same year.

Irish Brigades Abroad examines the complete history of the Irish regiments in France, Spain, Austria and beyond. Covering the period from King James II's reign of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1685, until the disbandment of the Irish Brigades in France and Spain, this book looks at the origins, formation, recruitment and the exploits of the Irish regiments, including their long years of campaigning from the War of the Grand Alliance in 1688 right through to the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. What emerges is a picture of the old-fashioned virtues of honour, chivalry, integrity and loyalty, of adventure and sacrifice in the name of a greater cause.

Part one of a two-volume biography on Robert Emmet, one of the best known but least understood figures in Irish history. The author draws on significant new research to establish the correct relationship between the pivotal events of 1798 and 1803 in which Emmet played a significant role.

A collection of papers delivered to the inaugural Comoradh '98 Conference in Wexford, together with a selection of the proceedings of the first Byrne-Perry Summer School, both of which were held in 1995.