Society of United Irishmen

The Society of United Irishmen was a secret organization founded in 1791 in Ireland, aiming to unite Catholics, Protestants, and Dissenters in a common effort for political reform and independence from Britain. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas and the American and French Revolutions, they sought to achieve equality, civil rights, and an end to British rule through protest and, ultimately, rebellion. Their movement played a central role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The society emphasized civic unity and national identity, challenging existing social and religious divisions in Ireland.