‘I hope the Defenders have rallied to you’: The United Irishmen, Defenders and Popular Loyalism in Ulster, 1795-98

The 1798 Rebellion in Ulster was concentrated on the counties of Antrim and Down. Earlier attempts to create a revolutionary alliance between the United Irishmen and the Defenders had raised the prospect of an irresistible force capable of changing the political landscape forever. These hopes had largely evaporated by the year of the Rebellion as internal dissension and the emergence of popular loyalism undermined the possibility of a successful insurrection. This talk by Ken Dawson explores the complexity of the unfolding situation and the extent of the ‘Turnout’ in 1798.

Our Speaker: Ken Dawson

Ken Dawson is a recently retired teacher. He has been researching the United Irishmen for over twenty years and is the author of a number of articles on the subject. In 2017 Irish Academic Press published his biography of the leading United Irishman Samuel Neilson (The Belfast Jacobin) and he is currently researching the impact of informers in the years leading up to the Rebellion of 1798.

Planning your Visit:

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  • Booking in advance essential due to limited spaces.
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  • Cancellations & Refund Policy – Cancellations must be made within 24 hours of scheduled tour start time.

Tickets

Type: Talk

Event Occurrences:

Tuesday 24th Feb 2026 @ 1:00pm
Tickets