Ireland: A Television History

Two Nations (1700-1845)

In the 18th century Ireland was virtually two nations. A new breed of nationalists, the United Irishmen, worked to bring the two nations together and plotted, with French help, to set up an independent Irish Republic embracing Protestants and Catholics alike. But the national rebellion degenerated into a bloody sectarian revolt. By 1801, with Britain and Ireland united, Catholics were not represented in the merged Irish and Westminster parliaments. Daniel O'Connell fought for and won Catholics' right to sit as MPs before embarking on a campaign to repeal Union.