Question, How early could Ireland regain its independence. . .

The First Home Rule Bill was in 1886.
IRL it split the Liberal Party and caused riots in Belfast, but it is the earliest point it was seriously proposed.
 
Different context: in Québec, the Catholic Church was strongly loyal to the British (and then Canadian) regime and urged its followers to obey it.

Perhaps more to the point, French Canadians had a much less conflictual relationship with the British Crown than did Irish Catholics, at least throughout the 19th century. British rule was not necessarily good for French Canada, hemming its prospects for expansion and encouraging the growth of a quietest reactionary consensus, but it did allow French Canadians in Québec (to some extent even elsewhere) to govern themselves in peace. Nothing like Ireland's history had occurred in Canada, not since the Acadian deportation at least.
 
unless you count a French victory in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, in which Ireland might become a client state of France.

Of course, very doubtful. At the most, Hoche's invasion of Ireland, if successful, could sustain a "Hibernian Republic" for five years before the fleet is recalled after defeats, after having caused economic chaos in Britain many times larger than the gold run on the bank that happened IOTL after a small French raid on Fishguard, and having caused a huge rebellion that scared the shits out of Britain.

If you have Britain fall into revolution by stopping the Great Reform Act (recall that the massive Days of May riots started over its temporary blocking IOTL), then Ireland will likely become independent at a fairly early point. But not during the French Period.
 
Probably the best Ireland can hope for is an early devolution of power to a local government, perhaps in the context of a federalization of the British Empire. Self-government for all?
 

Decius00009

Banned
At the most, Hoche's invasion of Ireland, if successful, could sustain a "Hibernian Republic" for five years before the fleet is recalled after defeats, after having caused economic chaos in Britain many times larger than the gold run on the bank that happened IOTL after a small French raid on Fishguard, and having caused a huge rebellion that scared the shits out of Britain.
I disagree, massively. If Hoche had succeeded in landing and then conquering Ireland - a big if, requiring a mixture of massive French luck, enthusiastic Irish support and spectacular British inertia - then Britain is toast, likely even finished as a great power. A great deal of their food came from Ireland, they heavily relied on it's charcoal and timber (the reason that Ireland is still the least forested country in Europe), and leant heavily on it's manpower. Ireland had a population half that of England at the time. Additionally, there wasn't one great family in England that didn't have huge holdings there. Their economy would have taken a critical hit, which would have crippled their ability to fund the war for the Allies or even fund their own operations. A successful operation would have encouraged the Directory to stand on the defence in Europe and pour everything they have into Ireland, which butterflies Bonaparte to a large degree. The British would have forced to make peace and beg the French to let them have Ireland back. Which the French seriously ought not to do
 
I disagree, massively. If Hoche had succeeded in landing and then conquering Ireland - a big if, requiring a mixture of massive French luck, enthusiastic Irish support and spectacular British inertia - then Britain is toast, likely even finished as a great power.

You're exaggerating. But first things first, Hoche never meant to conquer Ireland. I'm not sure that was ever in the cards at all. I think the Directory only did so to keep Paris from revolting against their unpopular government. Now, with British defences in Ireland in 1796 far weaker than those in 1797, and with a much stronger Society for a United Ireland, you'll probably see a massive chunk of Ireland under the control of a "Hibernian Republic". But then, with loyalist guerrillas throughout Ireland against the French and a large number of British forces being brought into Ireland, they'll eventually be defeated, and hopefully Hoche will be able to use this popularity to overthrow the counterrevolutionary Directory. As well, it'll create a dream of a non-sectarian, secular Ireland, which will have deep effects on Irish nationalism.

A great deal of their food came from Ireland, they heavily relied on it's charcoal and timber (the reason that Ireland is still the least forested country in Europe), and leant heavily on it's manpower.

In regards to the food issue, if memory recalls, Britain was still self-sufficient at this point, and even IOTL, there were a bunch of major naval mutinies in Ireland that didn't severely affect their ability to fight in the war, so manpower isn't that great of an issue.

Additionally, there wasn't one great family in England that didn't have huge holdings there. Their economy would have taken a critical hit, which would have crippled their ability to fund the war for the Allies or even fund their own operations.

I don't doubt this. There'd be a massive gold run on the bank that would make Fishguard and its results look like a minor market correction, and Luddite riots would also begin many years earlier.

A successful operation would have encouraged the Directory to stand on the defence in Europe and pour everything they have into Ireland, which butterflies Bonaparte to a large degree.

Here, I must dispute the role that money played in French advances. In Italy, which was the main area where the Directory advanced, it was mostly extremely-successful reforms and Bonaparte's skill that allowed for such a massive advance, and he also did this fairly independent of the Directory - see the Roman and Parthenopean Republics, in which Napoleon took the Papal States and the Two Sicilies entirely independent of any Directory decision. So, I suspect you'd see massive advances in Italy and a march to Vienna regardless. The only thing is, this probably butterflies Egypt, so without the taking of Malta by Napoleon's fleet and the anger this will give to Tsar Paul, Suvurov won't be in Italy, so I suspect a weaker advance by the Coalition in Italy.

The British would have forced to make peace and beg the French to let them have Ireland back. Which the French seriously ought not to do

Again, a bit of an exaggeration. I suspect Pitt's government will fall, and a more accommodating government will then sign something like Amiens. However, I suspect this treaty may have a chance of holding, what with Britain mired in domestic troubles.
 
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Different context: in Québec, the Catholic Church was strongly loyal to the British (and then Canadian) regime and urged its followers to obey it.

The Catholic Church in Ireland, beginning during the Napoleonic Wars and afterwards, was actually very loyal to British rule as well. There is a reason why, following the repealing of the anti-Catholic Penal Laws, the Church rose to such prominence within Ireland - it was viewed as an institution which was willing to play ball with the crown and help keep Ireland in order. The 19th century and early 20th century revolutionaries had a very conflicted view of the Church, at least partially because it was seen as in bed with the crown.
 
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