Editing Tandragee (section)

=== Tandragee Volunteers ===
In the late 18th century, Britain was engaged in the [[American Revolutionary War]]. This heightened the risk of invasion by French and Spanish forces, especially in Ireland. In response, groups of [[Irish Volunteers (18th century)|Irish Volunteers]] were formed throughout Ireland. They were equipped and managed independently and mostly consisted of Protestants, mainly from the [[Church of Ireland]]. Several companies were set up in the Tandragee area.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Quincey |title=Tandragee Ulster Volunteers |url=http://bygonedays.net/?p=1130 |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Bygonedays.net |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The Tandragee Volunteers, organised by Captain Nicholas Johnston in 1779, were fitted with scarlet uniforms faced with white details. Johnston set up another company in Tandragee known as the Tandragee Invincibles. In the churchyard, there is a grave dedicated to one of its volunteers, John Whitten, who died in 1785.<ref name=":3" />

Other companies included the Tandragee Light Dragoons, led by James Craig. Volunteer activities were mostly ceremonial, featuring reviews and shooting competitions. The Tandragee Volunteers played a notable role in a skirmish at [[Lisnagade]] in 1791. A group of Catholic [[Defenders (Ireland)|Defenders]] set up camp at Lisnagade fort, planning to confront a group of Protestant [[Peep o' Day Boys|Peep O' Day Boys]] commemorating King William's triumph at the [[Battle of the Boyne]]. This skirmish inspired the creation of a ballad known as ''Lisnagade'' ("Ye Protestants of Ulster").<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Ye Protestants of Ulster / Lisnagade |url=https://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/eire/lisnagad.htm |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=www.musicanet.org}}</ref>

The Volunteers' influence waned after the American Revolutionary War as new government-sanctioned groups emerged, such as the [[Yeomanry]]. Following the [[Battle of the Diamond]], the Yeomanry became associated with the [[Orange Order]]. Established in 1796, the Tandragee Yeomanry, along with the County Armagh Yeomanry, played a key role in suppressing the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798|1798 United Irishmen Rebellion]]. ''The Newry Telegraph'' estimated that 40,000 met at a demonstration in Tandragee.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bardon |first=Jonathan |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofulster00jona/mode/2up?q=%22met+at+Tandragee%22 |title=A history of Ulster |date=2005 |publisher=Blackstaff Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-85640-764-2}}</ref> With the Irish Volunteers disbanded and the [[Society of United Irishmen|United Irishmen]] defeated, the [[Acts of Union 1800]] dissolved the all-Ireland Parliament.<ref name=":3" />

==== Home Rule crisis ====
[[File:The Tandragee Volunteers.jpg|thumb|The Tandragee Volunteers at Tandragee Castle]]
From the introduction of the [[Government of Ireland Bill 1886|First Home Rule Bill]] in 1886, the Protestant community in Tandragee strongly opposed the idea and played a role in the establishment of a proposed 'Orange Army'.  An effigy of [[William Ewart Gladstone|Prime Minister William Gladstone]] was set alight in the town following an anti-Home Rule demonstration.<ref name="Cousins">{{Cite book |last=Cousins |first=Colin |url=https://archive.org/details/armaghgreatwar0000cous/mode/2up |title=Armagh and the Great War |date=2011 |publisher=Dublin : History Press Ireland |via=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-84588-711-7}}</ref>

Tandragee also had a strong representation in the [[Ulster Defence Union]]. In the central assembly of 600 members appointed on 21 October 1886, the southern region, including Armagh, Cavan, and Monaghan, was represented by eight local representatives: Rev. P.A. Kelly, Rev. W. McEndoo, Rev. R.J. Whan, Maynard Sinton, Thomas White, William O’Brien, John Atkinson, and Rev. George Laverty.<ref name=":3" />

In 1910, branches of the [[Unionist Club]] were founded in Tandragee, [[Clare, County Armagh|Clare]], [[Scarva]], [[Poyntzpass]], and Ballyshiel. In September, under the supervision of [[William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester]], members of the Tandragee Club engaged in drills prior to the [[Ulster Covenant]].<ref name=":3" />

During the [[Government of Ireland Act 1914|Third Home Rule Crisis]], the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] leadership chose to unite the various [[Ulster loyalism|unionist paramilitary groups]]. By December 1912, the County Armagh Committee included several figures from the business sector, the legal field, and the local [[aristocracy]]. The representatives from Tandragee were Rev. R.J. Whan and George Davison. These people played a role in the eventual formation of a local battalion of the [[Ulster Volunteers]].<ref name=":3" />

Tandragee was identified by the [[Royal Irish Constabulary]] in 1912 as one of ten locations where unionist paramilitary drills were occurring. The population of the Tandragee area became a majority of the Third Battalion of the County Armagh Regiment of the [[Ulster Volunteers|Ulster Volunteer Force]] - also known as the Tandragee Volunteers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=McKenna |first=Micheal |date=2019-07-08 |title=Tandragee history re-discovered |url=https://armaghi.com/news/tandragee-news/tandragee-history-re-discovered/90285 |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=Armagh I |language=en}}</ref> Tandragee Castle was the headquarters of the Tandragee Volunteers, with records indicating that the 9th Duke of Manchester occasionally inspected the troops and permitted the use of his estate.<ref name=":3" />

A mural commemorating the Third Battalion of the County Armagh Regiment UVF is located at the junction of Montague Street and Ballymore Road in Tandragee.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wall mural commemorating 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers |url=https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/265245/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>