Brian,
Based on some research, 1782/83 was the period of revolution in the US (colonies at that time) I came across this article that reference this period in Ireland. The article was about the period leading up to the Irish rebellion in 1798. In the 1782/83 period there was an increase in recruitment in Ireland for fear of France might invade after it sided with the colonist in a war against England.
"When France joined the Americans in support of their Revolutionary War, London called for volunteers to join militias to defend Ireland against the threat of invasion from France (since regular British forces had been dispatched to America). Many thousands joined the Irish Volunteers. In 1782 they used their newly powerful position to force the Crown to grant the landed Ascendancy self-rule and a more independent parliament ("Grattan's Parliament")."
