The series tells the story of best friends Conor and Fergus and begins with both young men ready to leave small town Ireland behind in hopes of better fortunes abroad. The story then jumps forward to years later as both men's lives are thrown into turmoil by family drama, resurfacing old wounds and a dramatically changed Ireland.
A group of young men and women in Dublin in 1916 are embroiled in a fight for independence during the Easter Rising. The story begins with the outbreak of World War I. As expectations of a short and glorious campaign are dashed, social stability is eroded and Irish nationalism comes to the fore. The tumultuous events that follow are seen through the eyes of a group of friends from Dublin, Belfast and London as they play vital and conflicting roles in the narrative of Ireland's independence.