Who was Robert Emmet

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Q.� Is this all to do with the 1798 Rebellion

A.� Yes. In 1798, Ireland was shaken by a mass rebellion for democratic rights and against British rule. By the 1780s, the country was ruled by Anglican landowners, with Presbyterian landowners having only limited political power, and Catholic landowners none.

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Q.� So who rebelled

A.� The Society of United Irishmen, led by Thomas Wolfe Tone. It had been founded with James Tandy and Thomas Russell in 1791 to achieve Roman Catholic emancipation and, with Protestant co-operation, parliamentary reform. Failing in its aims, it resorted to violence against British rule. Wolfe Tone got help from the French to start an uprising and in December, 1796, he tried landing with a French fleet of 15,000 French soldiers off Bantry Bay. This was thwarted by rough weather and pressure mounted for rising without the French. The rebels decided to advance upon Dublin, but the rebellion was crushed mercilessly. [I'll tell its full story another time.] Many of the leaders fled to France.

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Q.� And this is where Emmet comes in

A. Indeed. Robert Emmet, born in Dublin into a fairly-well-to-do Protestant family, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He and his elder brother Thomas became involved with the United Irishmen and lived on the continent with the exiled leaders.

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Q.� Plotting

A.� Yes. Emmet attempted to enlist French support for an insurrection against British rule. With the promise of French military aid secured, Emmet returned to Ireland in 1802 and began to organise and arm the country in preparation for a French landing. However, Emmet's hand was forced in July, 1803, when an explosion at one of his arms depots gave his game away and he had to bring the rising forward to 23 July. The rebellion was ill-timed and ended in confusion as factions failed to receive the call to arms. And the promised French help didn’t turn up, either.

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Q.� So he gave up

A.� No. Emmet - wearing a green and white uniform - marched a small band against Dublin Castle. On their way, they saw Lord Kilwarden, the Lord Chief Justice, and his nephew in their coach. Emmet's followers killed them and then began to riot in the streets. Disillusioned by his followers' behaviour and realising the cause was lost, Emmet escaped to the Wicklow Mountains. He was captured

on 25 August and imprisoned at Kilmainham. He was tried for high treason in Green Street Courthouse, and made an impassioned speech from the dock.

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Q.� Did it do any good

A.� Emmet said: 'No man can write my epitaph, for as no man who knows my motives and character dares now to vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them ... When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then shall my character be vindicated, then may my epitaph be written.' He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. But out of deference to his aristocratic background, Emmet was merely hanged and beheaded - and spared disembowelling. His burial site remains a mystery.

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By Steve Cunningham

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