The foundation of the Belfast and Dublin societies of United Irishmen took place in the Autumn of 1791. This initially reformist organisation demanded democratic reforms including Catholic emancipation. In response to popular pressure the British government which effectively ruled Ireland initially granted some reforms. This period of reform ended in 1793 when war broke out between revolutionary France and Britain. The United Irishmen's journey to revolutionary separatism was only completed with the Cave Hill oath of June 1795. From this time on their program was for a revolution that with French backing would break the connection with Britain and usher in democratic reform.
In December of 1796 the United Irishmen came the nearest they would to victory when 15,000 French troops arrived off Bantry Bay. Only the bad weather and poor seamanship of the Jacobean sailors prevented the landing and saved Britain from defeat. After Bantry Bay Irish society was bitterly polarised as loyalists flocked to join the British army and the United Irishmen's numbers swelled massively.
By the Spring of 1798 a campaign of British terror was destroying the United Irishmen organisation and many of the leaders had been arrested. The remaining leaders felt forced to call an immediate rising, before French aid would arrive. The date was set for May 23rd. A series of factors undermined the rising in Dublin. However it sparked major risings in Wexford in the south and Antrim and Down in the North. These saw large scale battles in which tens of thousands participated. Elsewhere there were minor skirmishes particularly around Dublin. After the defeat of the main risings a small French Army landed on the west coast of Ireland at Killala on August the 22nd. Although there was almost no revolutionary organisation in that area thousands flocked to join them and the subsequent army succeeded in inflicting one major defeat on the British. By the Autumn the rebellion had been defeated, tens of thousands were dead and a reign of terror had spread over the country.
You can read more about the rebellion at 1798
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