Radical Scotland by Kenny MacAskill;

Author:Kenny MacAskill;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lightning Source Inc. (Tier 1)
Published: 2020-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

As a result of the conflict many rebels from the north of Ireland sought sanctuary in Scotland. Some took part in the rebellion itself but many more fled the sectarian violence that followed in its wake, as resentment over land and religion spilled over. Initially, the authorities in Scotland took steps to try and turn refugees away but the volume was such that many simply slipped through. In addition, posing as civilians, some members of the United Irishmen also sought to avoid capture or imprisonment by crossing the North Channel.

It was not easy for those who fled regardless of whether they were radicals or refugees. Volunteers in parts of southwest Scotland were mobilised. Hundreds were arrested and fighting at one time broke out between the Ayr Volunteer Corps and an armed Irish group, who were doubtless United Irishmen on the run. Thousands of Irish citizens arrived and dispersed across the country or travelled down to England. Such was the concern of the Lord Advocate that he even considered bringing in a Repatriation Act.

Ironically, although many came bringing their radical ideas, as others had done before, a few also brought over Orangeism. The sectarian violence that had broken out caused some Ulster Protestants to reconsider their position and moved from promoting radicalism to defending their religion. Most of those who helped establish the Orange Order had not been involved with the United Irishmen but had fled as sectarian conflict broke out. It is believed that the first lodge established in Maybole may have come about from returning Scottish militia from Ayrshire and Wigtownshire who brought the concept with them. They were soon joined by Protestant settlers and by a few former United Irishmen, although as with volunteering for the armed forces in Scotland, some of that may have been part of an effort to be seen to be renouncing past loyalties. However, this also helped to sow the seeds for an extension of popular loyalism and fuel sectarianism in Scotland.

One other group of United Irishmen would also arrive in Scotland and they were prisoners. Many leading figures had been killed and Wolfe Tone had committed suicide, whilst waiting to be hanged. He had requested that he be shot by firing squad as he considered himself to be a soldier, but his request was refused by the British authorities who convicted him after a summary trial. However, others were captured and imprisoned, which for security reasons was in Scotland rather than Ireland. This included most of the senior figures in the United Irishmen as most ordinary prisoners were pressed into military service or banished abroad. Government documents show that consideration was given to various sites to hold prisoners, from the Bass Rock to Dumbarton Castle, before they finally elected on Fort George in the highlands. As the military caravan escorting the twenty prisoners wound its weary way north from Gourock where it had landed, crowds gathered to watch, though it seems more through curiosity than affection or disdain.

The clampdown on and prohibition

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