WI: Aftermath of A bloodier Easter Rising

In Easter 1916, Dublin saw the Easter Rising. After the battle, 220 civillians had been killed aminly by the British Army, 132 British forces were killed and 64 IRB members were killed.
What if, the British Army was more heavy handed (if it's possible), or the IRB seize Dublin Castle and defend it to the last man. How the Rising could be bloodier is interesting.
What if, during the battle, Michael Collins was killed during the battle at the GPO and Eamon de Valera is killed by artillery. What would happen to the Republican movement and the fate of Ireland?
 

Germaniac

Donor
Lets say the IRA takes the castle... Then your going to have one hell of a bloody battle on your hands, id say the place gets blown to shit by british artillery along with a fight to the last man. How Dev dies is the real kicker. If he is captured and executed the ramifications could be extreme, with the Irish American lobby (and possibly enough anti british sentiment to make the US population to think twice about going to war) fully turning on Great Britain (Dev was born in america, this was the reason he wasn't executed).

While the big fella is one of my favorite historical characters the impact of his death may not be felt. Richard Mulcahy will replace Collins. They developed the Irish civil war together and without Collins he will likely take center stage.

The Civil War was going to happen once anyone other than Pearce is killed. Dev and Collins death wont stop it, however one major butterfly is one less awesome role for Liam Neeson to kick ass in.
 

Falkenburg

Monthly Donor
Bloodier how?

It really depends on how the Rising is bloodier.

If there is more widespread destruction of civilian property (that is clearly attributable to the Government Forces), coupled with a greater number of executions afterwards then I would think there would be a significant increase in Republican support (above and beyond OTL).

However, were such carnage to be linked in the public mind to the Rebels and the Government were unable to execute the Signatories or other leaders (they having died in action) and refrained from widening their net to the 'Rank and File' then things would look pretty grim for the Republican cause.

Remember that captured Rebels were spat on and abused (by the ordinary public) in the immediate aftermath of the Rising. Only after the executions and the 'martyrdom' of the Rebel leadership did (Irish) public opinion begin to swing decisively behind the Republican cause.

Personally I think looking for restraint on the part of the then British Government is verging on ASB - Especially if the cost to the Armed forces (and Exchequer) had been even greater.

Falkenburg
 
In terms of the judicial murders of the rising leaders - 90 received death sentences with 2 commuted, Dev and the countess and as far as I remember 16 were carried out including of course Connolly being executed while he was tied to a chair because of the wounds, he had received in the fighting, he was, I am reliably informed pumped up with morphine by a kind hearted nurse prior to his murder by the Imperialist forces!
The next in line to be executed was William T. Cosgrave, who subsequently went on to become Irish Prime munister for 10 years and his son subsequently. His father was actually executed by anti-treaty forces during the CW. The executions were stopped because the British PM Asquith was visiting in the aftermath of the rising and wanted it stopped. The reason why there wasn't the level of revenge exacted on the rebels as in 1798 for instance was because of American public opinion, the US wasn't in the war at that point and had a large Irish born population to such an extent that The Irish Times in the aftermath of the Judicial murders published a collective picture of those killed in this way on its front page with the title 'MARTYRS'! Around 3,000 rebels were interned in Frongach, Wales which had previously been a POW camp for German prisoners and became ultimately what was termed a university for revolution such was the attitude of the Irish prisoners there and indeed the tune which was to become the Irish national anthem - Amhrain Na Bhfiann ( the Soldiers' Song) became popular there first!
 
Well as long as the Government forces don't suddenly decide to rape and pillage Dublin, a bloody last stand at the Castle won't endear the rebels to most Irish in Ireland.

Sure the Irish Press in New York and Boston will praise their glory but considering they praised any act of violence against an Englishman, that's not too hard.

It should be remembered that Home Rule has only been suspended because of War - as far as the average citizen is concerned, once the Kaiser throws in the towel, the nationalists get their prize.

Falkenburg is right, if its execution wise - the Rising becomes a moral victory as Britain becomes evil incarnate to previously amiable Irish Nationalists and their bretheren across the pond.

However if the Rising itself is bloodier and causes a lot of property damage - ironically I'd say its a lot better for Ireland. The radicals get discredited, Home Rule eventually gets put on the table with less violence, they avoid a civil war and Irish politics might evolve beyond Treaty factions at some point.
 
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