How effectively did Irish Catholic and nationalist leaders advance their cause in the years 1801 – 1921?

... How effectively did Irish Catholic and nationalist leaders advance their cause in the years 1801 - 1921? In 1800 Catholics were persecuted under the Penal Laws they could not vote, sit in Parliament or hold public office this was unusual because this persecution affected 6/7 of the majority of the Island. Nationalist leaders set out to change status quo. Wolf Tone stated, "Ireland is for the Irish" through this nationalism was born. There are two predominate strands of Nationalism throughout this period in Irish history. Constitutional nationalism, which was to work within the British Parliamentary system in achieving an Irish self-governing body, which would deal with Irish domestic leaving Foreign affairs to Westminster known as Home Rule, leaders such as O' Connell, Parnell and Redmond are commonly known as constitutional nationalists. Republican Nationalists felt differently in methods in achieving Home Rule. Republicans felt that working within British politics would achieve nothing

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