1867 - Chester Castle Raid

The Fenian movement's planned raid on Chester Castle collapsed after British authorities received advance warning. This ambitious operation, intended to seize arms for use in Ireland, demonstrated both the scale of Fenian ambitions and the effectiveness of British intelligence operations. The failure of the raid led to significant changes in Fenian strategy and organization.

1916 - Easter Rising Eve

The Irish Republican Brotherhood's Military Council made final preparations for the Easter Rising, even as confusion spread about Eoin MacNeill's countermanding order. The leaders decided to proceed with the rising despite the setback, though the countermanding order would significantly reduce the number of volunteers who would participate.

1969 - O'Neill's Resignation

Terence O'Neill resigned as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, marking the end of his attempts to reform the Unionist government. His departure, forced by hardline opposition to his modest reforms, signaled the failure of gradual change to address Northern Ireland's deepening crisis and highlighted the growing polarization of politics in the region.