In this episode we examine the world's descent into the First World War and how it impacted the escalation in tensions between the nationalists and unionists, who by 1914 had received large illegal shipments of guns. Now armed, both sides looked to the passing of the Home Rule Bill, since the House of Lords could no longer veto the Bill. The war forced both sides to look to events other than those occurring in their ruddy island, and with this new focus came decision time for the nationalists, led by John Redmond. Redmond's decision to call for Irish support of the war is examined here in the context of the time that it was made. Redmond's expectations and hopes for what Britain would grant to Ireland after the war revealed his motives, but his stance cost the unity of nationalists at home, as the Irish Volunteers split, and the group that elected to remain neutral set themselves on a path which for some would lead to the 1916 rising.
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