1828 - O'Connell's Clare Election

Daniel O'Connell won the historic Clare by-election, directly challenging the penal laws that prevented Catholics from sitting in Parliament. His victory represented a watershed moment in the Catholic Emancipation movement, as it forced the British government to confront the reality that excluding Catholics from Parliament was no longer sustainable. The election campaign had mobilized unprecedented numbers of Catholic voters, demonstrating the power of mass political participation.

The aftermath of O'Connell's victory created a constitutional crisis, as he could not legally take his seat in Parliament due to the requirement to take the anti-Catholic oath. This situation placed immense pressure on the Duke of Wellington's government to address Catholic claims, ultimately leading to the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829. The Clare election became a model for peaceful, constitutional agitation that would influence Irish political movements for generations.

1926 - Army Mutiny Resolution

The Army Mutiny crisis was formally resolved through negotiations between the government and military leaders, ending a serious threat to the stability of the Free State. The mutiny had emerged from tensions over army demobilization and the treatment of former IRA veterans. Its resolution involved significant reforms in military organization and conditions of service, as well as addressing the grievances of former independence fighters.

The settlement demonstrated the new state's ability to handle internal crises through negotiation rather than force. However, the underlying issues of military reform and the integration of former IRA members into the regular army continued to influence Irish military development. The resolution helped establish clearer civil-military relations and strengthened democratic control over the armed forces.

1988 - Milltown Cemetery Attack

Michael Stone launched a lone attack on mourners at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast during the funeral of three IRA members killed in Gibraltar. Using grenades and pistols, Stone killed three people and injured dozens more in an attack that shocked both communities. The assault was captured on television cameras, bringing the horror of sectarian violence into homes across the world.

The attack's aftermath saw increased sectarian tensions and a cycle of revenge killings. The visual documentation of the attack made it a powerful symbol of the conflict's brutality. The incident also raised serious questions about security at republican funerals and led to changes in how such events were policed. The Milltown attack remains one of the most notorious episodes of the Troubles, demonstrating the potential for individual acts of violence to inflame communal tensions.