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The Signing Of The Ulster Covenant

October 2005

On September 28, 1912, 237,368 men signed the Ulster Covenant and the declaration signed by 234,046 women.

The Ulster Covenant was part of a response by Ulster Unionists to the efforts of many Westminster governments to settle the ongoing debate of giving Ireland a measure of self-rule known as Home Rule.

Home Rule was the name given to the process of allowing Ireland more say in how it was governed freeing them from the rule of London and thus appeasing those in Ireland who wanted Ireland to have more home derived power.

The House of Lords opposed the idea of Home Rule in Ireland and in 1886 and 1893, there had been two Home Rule Bills but both were rejected and killed off by the members of the House of Lords. They saw the introduction of Home Rule as the start of the process whereby the power of London was reduced, first in Ireland - and then where else? However in 1911, the House of Parliament Act effectively reduced the House of Lord's power to that of delay as opposed to one of outright rejection of the notion of Home Rule.

The British Prime Minister in 1912 was Herbert Henry Asquith, who introduced a Third Home Rule Bill and on the eve of the Bill's introduction, April 9, 1912, a large demonstration was held at Balmoral, Belfast, attended by approximately 200,000 Unionists, including the Orange Order and marched from Belfast city centre.

The signing of the Ulster Covenant has been recorded in the history books as being like a crusade. Religious services took place in churches throughout the country. In Belfast work ceased with factories becoming idle allowing their workers the opportunity to attend church then to attend the larger gathering at the City Hall.

There were approximately 2,500 men drawn from Orange Lodges and Unionist clubs who marshalled the crowds outside the City Hall throughout the day.

Following the Ulster Covenant campaign, Prime Minister Asquith tried to force the Bill through the House of Commons in November 1912 and was defeated.

However, by 1913, the Home Rule debate continued and was passed in the Commons and was thrown out by the House of Lords.

In Ulster the Covenant organisers had proved their ability to mobilise large numbers of people. Following the signing of the Covenant and in preparation for the potential success of a third Home Rule Bill, Edward Carson and James Craig formed the Ulster Volunteer Force, which saw more than 100,000 men between the ages of 17 and 65 becoming members.

The Home Rule issue was put on hold due to the outbreak of World War One. Many of the men who joined the Ulster Volunteer Force, enlisted mostly with the 36th Ulster Division, many of which suffered many casualties at the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916.

Northern Ireland was established by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which many Ulstermen saw as a reward for their loyal service during the war. Many of the men who served and returned safely from the First World War, became Special Constables and were commonly known as B-Specials.

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