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.

A stunning exploration of a legendary moment in Irish history. In 1798 with the British Army preoccupied in fighting France in the Caribbean and Mediterranean as well as guarding Southeast England from threatened invasion, a co-ordinated uprising broke out across the water in Ireland. Uniquely this was neither a Catholic nor a Protestant rebellion, but rather a joint effort by leaders and insurgents from both sides of the community. The Irish Rebellion (1798) was directed against the corrupt government based at Dublin Castle and was inspired in part by the people's revolutions in America and France. This title illuminates the lives of the Irish peasants, armed mostly with pikes, who confronted the small number of British troops based in their country.