In January 1913, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was formed in Belfast as a unionist militia to resist Home Rule by force. The UVF, which was led by Edward Carson and James Craig, recruited thousands of men and imported arms from Germany. The formation of the UVF was a major escalation in the Home Rule crisis and brought Ireland to the brink of civil war.

The formation of the UVF is a subject of unionist poetry, with ballads celebrating the militia's determination to defend Ulster's British identity. The UVF's militarism is often contrasted with the constitutional nationalism of the Irish Parliamentary Party, creating a tension that is explored in the poetry of the period. The UVF's legacy is a recurring theme in the poetry of Northern Ireland, reflecting the deep sectarian divisions of the region.