Having won four by-elections in 1917 - in North Roscommon, South Longford, East Clare and Kilkenny City - Sinn Féin had appeared to be winning a majority of support of the nationalist population.

However, since the beginning of the year the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) had won three seats - South Armagh, Waterford City and East Tyrone - in by-elections.

[2] With losses mounting on the Western Front, Prime Minister David Lloyd George decided to tie proposals for self-government to the extension of conscription to Ireland.

On the day of Young's death, an Anti-Conscription Committee was formed in Dublin, which included Griffith and John Dillon, newly elected leader of the IPP.

The situation took a new turn on 17 May, when the Viceroy, Lord French, ordered the arrest of a number of Sinn Féin leaders, including Griffiths, citing an alleged 'German Plot'.

[4] Griffith won the support of others including the Irish Parliamentary Party's MPs for North Meath, Patrick White[5] and Cork City, William O'Brien.

[6] The campaign also focused on economic issues, with the IPP supporters arguing that they had achieved increases in the price of flour, and Sinn Féin claiming responsibility for a rise in old age pensions.