Editing Connacht (section)

=== Early modern era ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
{{Main|Republic of Connacht}}
[[File:Green harp flag of Ireland.svg|thumb|Flag of the short-lived "Republic of Connacht"]]
Connacht was mainly at peace between 1691 and 1798. In 1798 Connacht was a major backdrop to the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]] when French forces under General [[Jean Joseph Amable Humbert|Jean Humbert]] of the [[French First Republic|French Republic]] landed in Killala, County Mayo to link up with the [[United Irishmen]]. Together, the French army and United Irishmen rebels defeated a force of Crown troops at the [[Races of Castlebar]] before proclaiming the [[Irish Republic (1798)|Irish Republic]], which later became better known as the "Republic of Connacht" as its area of effective control never extended beyond the province. The Republic, and the Rebellion itself, was effectively crushed at the [[Battle of Ballinamuck]].

A [[population growth|population explosion]] in the early 18th century was curbed by the [[Irish Famine (1740–1741)|Irish Famine]], which led to many deaths and some emigration. Its memory has been overshadowed by the [[Great Famine (Ireland)]] one hundred years later.