Volunteer (Ulster loyalist)
Encyclopedia
Volunteer, abbreviated Vol., is a title used by a number of Ulster loyalist paramilitary
organisations to describe their members.
. The Irish Rifle Volunteer Corps was established in London in 1859, and later became the London Irish Rifles
. In 1860 in response to the Volunteer Force movement in the rest of the United Kingdom
, the short-lived Royal Irish Rifle Volunteers
was established in Dublin, 1860.
The 1,400 Irish Catholics who enlisted with the Papal Army in 1860, to defend the Papal States
during the Unification of Italy, are cited as being volunteers.
In 1913, the term was adopted into the name of the Ulster Volunteers (Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF), an organisation created to resist Irish Home Rule
. In response and in part inspired by the formation of the UVF, Irish nationalists founded the Irish Volunteers
(Irish Volunteer Force) to defend Home Rule.
In September 1914, a split in the Irish Volunteers, saw the greater majority of its 160,000 membership form the National Volunteers
, with 12,000 members led by Eoin MacNeill
, continuing under the name of the Irish Volunteers. The Irish Republican Army
, and descended groups, who regard themselves as the inheritors of these Irish Volunteers use the term "volunteer" to describe their members.
who see themselves as the direct continuation of the original Ulster Volunteers. It is also used by its youth wing, the Young Citizen Volunteers
. Likewise the Ulster Defence Association
and Red Hand Commando's refer to their members as volunteers. It can also be found in the names of similar paramilitary organisations like the Loyalist Volunteer Force
, Orange Volunteers
and now-defunct Ulster Protestant Volunteers
.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organisations to describe their members.
History of the term volunteer in Ireland
In an Irish context on its own, the term was originally used as the name of the late 18th century VolunteersIrish Volunteers (18th century)
The Irish Volunteers were a militia in late 18th century Ireland. The Volunteers were founded in Belfast in 1778 to defend Ireland from the threat of foreign invasion when regular British soldiers were withdrawn from Ireland to fight across the globe during the American War of Independence...
. The Irish Rifle Volunteer Corps was established in London in 1859, and later became the London Irish Rifles
London Irish Rifles
The London Irish Rifles is now known more formally known as "D Company, London Regiment" and is a volunteer Rifle Regiment with a distinguished history...
. In 1860 in response to the Volunteer Force movement in the rest of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the short-lived Royal Irish Rifle Volunteers
Royal Irish Rifle Volunteers
The Royal Irish Rifle Volunteers was a Volunteer Corps established in Dublin, Ireland in 1860, in response to the Volunteer Force movement in the United Kingdom. The establishment of the corps was largely instigated by Colonel Fitzstephen French, of Frenchpark, County Roscommon, an MP for that county...
was established in Dublin, 1860.
The 1,400 Irish Catholics who enlisted with the Papal Army in 1860, to defend the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
during the Unification of Italy, are cited as being volunteers.
In 1913, the term was adopted into the name of the Ulster Volunteers (Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF), an organisation created to resist Irish Home Rule
Irish Home Rule Movement
The Irish Home Rule Movement articulated a longstanding Irish desire for the repeal of the Act of Union of 1800 by a demand for self-government within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The movement drew upon a legacy of patriotic thought that dated back at least to the late 17th...
. In response and in part inspired by the formation of the UVF, Irish nationalists founded the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
(Irish Volunteer Force) to defend Home Rule.
In September 1914, a split in the Irish Volunteers, saw the greater majority of its 160,000 membership form the National Volunteers
National Volunteers
The National Volunteers was the name taken by the majority of the Irish Volunteers that sided with Irish Parliamentary Party leader John Redmond after the movement split over the question of the Volunteers' role in World War I.-Origins:...
, with 12,000 members led by Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill was an Irish scholar, nationalist, revolutionary and politician. MacNeill is regarded as the father of the modern study of early Irish medieval history. He was a co-founder of the Gaelic League, to preserve Irish language and culture, going on to establish the Irish Volunteers...
, continuing under the name of the Irish Volunteers. The Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
, and descended groups, who regard themselves as the inheritors of these Irish Volunteers use the term "volunteer" to describe their members.
Modern usage in loyalism
The term is used by the modern Ulster Volunteer ForceUlster Volunteer Force
The Ulster Volunteer Force is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in late 1965 or early 1966 and named after the Ulster Volunteer Force of 1913. The group's volunteers undertook an armed campaign of almost thirty years during The Troubles...
who see themselves as the direct continuation of the original Ulster Volunteers. It is also used by its youth wing, the Young Citizen Volunteers
Young Citizen Volunteers
The Young Citizen Volunteers of Northern Ireland had its first meeting just prior to the signing of the Solemn League and Covenant , opposing Home Rule, in Belfast City Hall on September 10, 1912...
. Likewise the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
and Red Hand Commando's refer to their members as volunteers. It can also be found in the names of similar paramilitary organisations like the Loyalist Volunteer Force
Loyalist Volunteer Force
The Loyalist Volunteer Force is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed by Billy Wright in 1996 when he and the Portadown unit of the Ulster Volunteer Force's Mid-Ulster Brigade was stood down by the UVF leadership. He had been the commander of the Mid-Ulster Brigade. The...
, Orange Volunteers
Orange Volunteers
The Orange Volunteers or Orange Volunteer Force is an Ulster loyalist and Protestant fundamentalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland.-Origins:...
and now-defunct Ulster Protestant Volunteers
Ulster Protestant Volunteers
The Ulster Protestant Volunteers were a loyalist and fundamentalist Christian paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. They were active between 1966 and 1969 and closely linked to the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee , established by Ian Paisley in 1966.The UPV launched a bombing campaign to...
.