On this night 24/25th of April 1914, the UVF landed thousands of rifles and a million rounds of ammunition into Larne and two other ports in Antrim. They had cleverly fooled the RIC by staging a diversionary ship to port in Belfast and delay its unloading and inspection in ensure the ships with the guns could actually make it to Larne and Donaghadee to unload its precious cargo.
In the ensuing months the Irish Volunteer Force would follow suit and smuggle guns and ammo into Howth.
Ireland was poised for a civil war.
The Irish at War 