How Did the Irish Revival Begin? Keys to Holy Spirit Revival
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
In our daily 3-minute meditations on groupbiblestudy.com, we reflect on how God's Spirit has historically moved powerfully through revival. We hope these sessions inspire us to earnestly pray that He visit us in similar ways today. Today, we look at the Irish Revival of 1859.
In the 1850s, many people began praying for the Holy Spirit to visit and revive the church in Ireland. The movement began when a Christian woman, Mrs. Colville of Gateshead, England, visited Ballymena, Ireland. Blessed with courage and faith, she led others to Christ. While distributing tracts, she shared Christ with a woman.
A young man named Jeremiah McQuilken overheard her kindly say to a woman, "You have never known the Lord Jesus." Those words affected McQuilken deeply. He realized the truth applied to him, even though he was a professing Christian. For two weeks, he had no peace, day or night. Then he found peace in Christ.
His first convert was a friend named Jeremiah Meneely, and together they began to pray with two other men, John Wallace and Robert Carlisle. These four prayed for the Holy Spirit to bring an awakening to Ireland.
The Historic Spark of the 1859 Ulster Awakening
The revival spirit began to grow. People cried out for mercy in open-air meetings. A singing class turned into a prayer gathering, with many coming together to pray all night.
The revival spread with remarkable fervor, reaching Ahoghill and other parishes. Converts led meetings in barns, schools, and homes, attracting large crowds. In Ballymena, the town suddenly seemed spiritually alive. "The difficulty used to be to get the people into the church," a minister observed, "but now the challenge is to get them out." The closing prayer was repeated multiple times, yet each time, the earnest prayers of the congregation burst forth again. The penitent's heartfelt cries over sin would resound, causing the gatherings to often extend into the early morning hours.
The remarkable nature of the spiritual revival in Ballymena is evident in the testimony of Rev. S. Moore, who said:
"On my return, after two days' absence at a Meeting of Synod, I found the town in great excitement. Many families had not slept for two or three nights. While passing by dozens of houses, night and day, you would hear loud cries for mercy from those under conviction, the voice of prayer from kind visitors, or the sweet, soothing tones of sacred song. Business seemed at a standstill.” [1]
What Happens When the Holy Spirit Moves Supernaturally?
I share these accounts to illustrate what happens during a revival. A key point is that when God moves supernaturally, there is no logical explanation for how it happens. In such moments, I believe people outside God's kingdom would be unable to explain the phenomenon.
When a genuine Holy Spirit-led revival occurs, its fruit is evident in transformed lives, as many people turn to Christ, repent, and confess Him as their Savior. In my view, anything less is not a true revival. God is in the business of salvation. He has not come merely to give us a feeling, a spiritual high, or physical healing, but to offer complete redemption. I love it when God visits us with His powerful presence, as when we see healings and the gifts of the Spirit at work. However, God's primary desire is for people to come to know Him. He wants His house full, and He will work through us if we make ourselves available.
How to Apply the Lessons of the Revival to Your Life Today
It is easy to look at history and think revival is something that only happens to other people in other eras. But the Irish Revival teaches us that God uses ordinary people who make themselves available.
Here is how you can practically apply this text to your daily life starting today:
Start Your Own "Group of Four": Jeremiah McQuilken didn't change Ireland alone; he gathered three friends to pray. Find just one or two like-minded believers. Commit to a weekly, 15-minute prayer call specifically asking the Holy Spirit to move in your families and local community.
Listen for the "Whisper" in Everyday Conversations: The entire revival was sparked because a young man overheard a simple, bold phrase shared in passing. Pay attention to conversations around you this week. Don't be afraid to gently ask someone about their faith or share a word of encouragement—you never know whose heart God is already preparing.
Create a "Sin Inventory" During Personal Prayer: True revival begins with personal repentance. Set a timer for 5 minutes during your quiet time. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden bitterness, unforgiveness, or pride. Write them down, confess them, and let them go.
Continue Your Spiritual Journey…
Watch: Visit our video teaching on
Bookmark: Save this page to browse our free [3-minute Bible Meditations].
Read: Dive deeper with the full study online: [Revival Changes Nations].
Series: This excerpt is taken from the series called: On Fire With the Holy Spirit.
Comments