Dublin battalions of the Irish Volunteers held public maneuvers under arms. Other Irish Volunteer units did the same in other parts of the country
The demonstrations were not universally popular with the Irish public given that a high percentage of Irish me had volunteered to serve with the British army then fighting in Europe. They did reflect rising tensions following the extension of conscription to Ireland. Authorities were distressed by the large number of firearms showing up in Irish Volunteer hands.
The Irish Volunteers was an Irish militia formed to support Home Rule, should there be violent opposition to it. Home Rule was coming on, and only the Great War had delayed it. By this time, however, the Volunteers had been infiltrated by nationalist with their own designs, which would soon become evident.
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