Raggy 453,000 or thereabouts solemnly swore that they would do whatever was necessary to prevent Home Rule and Independence. The Larne Gun Smuggling scandal and the formation of the UVF caused the formation of the IVF so the Nationalists certainly took them seriously and at face value at the time. In the rebellion of 1916 only 0.05% of the Irish population could be arsed to take part. In the Irish War of Independence only 0.5% of the Irish population could be arsed to take part. And so enraged by the treaty settlement were they that in the Civil War that de Valera fanned into flames in 1921 and which lasted for almost eleven months only 3.33% of the population of Southern Ireland could be arsed to take part. In the North around 48% of the population were arsed to sign a Covenant stating in the clearest terms possible what they would do to remain as part of the United Kingdom - tell me of any similar document signed in the South to back your rebels Raggy.

As to arms and ammunition Raggy I believe that the UVF managed to get arms into Ireland far more successfully than either the IVF or the IRB.

All moot of course at it never happened but, and this is just my opinion, had independence been forced on the North then the civil war would have been far, far worse.