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Timeline of 1798

MARCH
12thMembers of the Leinster Directory of the United Irishmen, (U.I.) meeting in Dublin in the home of Oliver Bond, are arrested by government forces
30thGovernment Viceroy, Lord Camden, issues a declaration, "The country is in a state of rebellion". Effective martial law.

APRIL
9thFirst meeting of Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland takes place in Dublin.
23rdDisarming of counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Tipperary is underway.
25thGeneral Gerard Lake replaces Sir Ralph Abercromby as Commander-in-Chief of government forces in Ireland.
27thThe North Cork Militia arrive in Co. Wexford.

MAY
18thNational Directory of the (U.I.) meets in Dublin and set date for rebellion.
19th(U.I.) leader, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, arrested in Dublin.
23rdRebellion begins in Leinster, primarily in Co. Kildare. Insurgents are repulsed at Naas and Clane, defeated at Rathangan, but victorious at Prosperous.
In Wexford, Anthony Perry is arrested, tortured and forced to name principal U.I. leaders in the area.
24thThirty-four suspected (U.I.) prisoners shot in Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow.
25thTwenty-four United Irish prisoners shot at Carnew, Co. Wicklow.
26thInsurgents defeated at Tara, marking end of rebellion in Co. Meath.
Rebellion begins in Co. Wexford.
Fr. John Murphy (Fr. J.M.) and local people confront Camolin yeomanry at The Harrow. In the resulting engagement, Yeomanry Lieutenant Thomas Bookey is killed.
27thInsurgents, Edward Roche and Morgan Byrne defeat North Cork Militia at Oulart Hill. Militia destroy chapel and houses at Boolavogue, (Fr. J.M’s parish church).
28thFirst Battle of Enniscorthy, insurgents take the town.
29thInsurgents camp on Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy.
Ulster Directory of (U.I) meet to plan rebellion in counties Antrim and Down.
More than 300 insurgent prisoners executed at The Curragh, Co. Kildare.
30thWexford insurgents victorious at Battle of Three Rocks (outside Wexford town).
Insurgents take Wexford town, liberating prisoners including Bagenal Harvey.
Committee of Public Safety established in Wexford town.
31stBagenal Harvey appointed Commander of insurgent forces.
Civilian government established in Wexford town led by four Protestants and four Catholics.

JUNE
1stInsurgents defeated at Bunclody, (then known as Newtownbarry) Co. Wexford .
2-3rdInsurgents defeated at Kilcock, Co. Kildare.
4thInsurgents defeat government troops at Battle of Tubberneering, Co. Wexford, and occupy Gorey.
In Dublin, Lord Edward Fitzgerald dies.
5thInsurgents defeated at New Ross, Co. Wexford - John Kelly of Killanne seriously wounded.
Over 100 suspected loyalist prisoners massacred at Scullabogue, outside New Ross.
Fr. Philip Roche replaces Bagenal Harvey as commander of insurgent army.
7thHenry Joy McCracken leads insurgent forces in unsuccessful attack on Antrim town.
8thRebellion breaks out in Co. Down, led by Henry Munro.
9thInsurgents defeated at Battle of Arklow, Co. Wicklow. Fr. Michael Murphy killed in action.
10thPike Sunday, Co. Down - insurgents repulsed at Portaferry, Co. Down. 500 insurgents capture Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
12thInsurgents attack Borris House, Co. Carlow but are repulsed.
13thMunro and insurgents defeated at Battle of Ballinahinch, Co. Down. Rebellion in Ulster over.
16thEngagement at Mountpleasant, Co. Wicklow.
Henry Munro executed in Lisburn, Co. Down.
17thInsurgents burn Tinahely, Co. Wicklow.
18thKildare insurgents routed at Ovidstown, Co. Kildare
20thThomas Dixon and followers massacre loyalist prisoners on bridge in Wexford town.
21stGovernment forces recapture Wexford and Enniscorthy towns.
Battle of Vinegar Hilll. After 5 hours, insurgents are routed and retreat southwards through ‘Needham’s Gap’.
24thFr. J.M. and The insurgents take Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
25-26thFr. Philip Roche, Matthew Keogh and other insurgents hanged on Wexford bridge.
Insurgents capture Hackettstown, Co. Carlow.
26thFr. J.M. and the insurgents defeated at Kilcumney Hill, Co. Carlow.
27thCornelius Grogan and Bagenal Harvey tried in Wexford town and sentenced to death.
28thJohn Colclough tried and sentenced to death. Colclough, Grogan and Harvey executed on Wexford bridge.

JULY
2ndFr. J.M. & James Gallagher executed at Tullow, Co. Carlow.
4-5thWexford insurgents dislodged from White Heap mountain. End of rebellion in Co. Wexford.
10thCo. Wexford insurgents skirmish at Kill, on way to join insurgents of Co. Kildare.
14thInsurgent army defeated at Battle of Knightstown, Co. Meath.
John and Henry Sheares executed.
Fr Mogue Kearns and Anthony Perry captured and executed at Edenderry, Co. Offaly.
17thHenry Joy McCracken executed.

AUGUST
6thGeneral Humbert sails from La Rochelle, France, with three frigates and around 1,000 men.
23rdFrench army disembarks at Killala Bay, Co. Mayo.
25thFrench and insurgents capture Ballina, Co. Mayo.
27thHumbert's Franco-Irish army defeats government forces at "the Races of Castlebar", Co. Mayo.
31stHumbert proclaims the 'Provisional Republic of Connaught'.

SEPTEMBER
3rdHumbert evacuates Castlebar, which is then occupied by government forces.
4thRebellion breaks out in the border areas of counties Longford and Westmeath.
James Napper Tandy and a small French force sets sail from Dunkirk, France,
for Ireland.
8thFollowing defeat at the Battle of Ballinamuck, Co. Longford, the French troops surrender.
Irish rebels are massacred.
16thNapper Tandy disembarks from France at Rutland Island, Co. Donegal.
17thNine French ships with c.3,000 men, leave Brest, France, for Ireland. Wolfe Tone accompanies them.
22ndGovernment forces retake Ballina, Co. Mayo.
23rdKillala, Co. Mayo is retaken by Government forces; this marks the end of the rebellion in Connaught.

OCTOBER
12thFrench ships are captured off the north west coast.
Wolfe Tone is arrested and sent to Dublin.

NOVEMBER
10thWolfe Tone is tried and sentenced to death.
12thWolfe Tone cuts his throat.
19thWolfe Tone dies.