The United Irish leadership, despite their growing…

The United Irish leadership, despite their growing strength, had decided to seek military help from the French revolutionary government and to postpone the rising until French troops land in Ireland.

Theobald Wolfe Tone, leader of the United Irishmen, had traveled in exile from the United States to France to press the case for intervention.

Tone's efforts succeed with the dispatch of the Expédition d'Irlande, and he accompanies a force of fourteen thousand French veteran troops under General Hoche, which arrives off the coast of Ireland at Bantry Bay in December 1796 after eluding the Royal Navy; however, unremitting storms, indecisiveness of leaders and poor seamanship all combine to prevent a landing.

The despairing Wolfe Tone remarked; "England has had its luckiest escape since the Armada." (The Writings of Theobald Wolfe Tone 1763–98, Volume Two: America, France and Bantry Bay – August 1795 to December 1796 (Journal entry 26th December 1796) – eds. T. W. Moody, R. B. MacDowel and C. J. Woods, Clarendon Press (USA)).

The French fleet is forced to return home and the veteran army intended to spearhead the invasion of Ireland splits up and is sent to fight in other theaters of the French Revolutionary Wars.