Irish Civil War

Irish Civil War. The conflict involved the Irish Free State, led by Michael Collins and W.T. Cosgrave, and the Irish Republican Army, led by Éamon de Valera and Liam Lynch. The war was a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by David Lloyd George and Arthur Griffith, which established the Irish Free State but also required oath of allegiance to the British monarch. The Treaty was opposed by Éamon de Valera and other Sinn Féin leaders, including Constance Markievicz and Cathal Brugha, who wanted to establish an Irish Republic.

Background

The Irish War of Independence had ended with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, which established the Irish Free State as a Dominion of the British Empire. However, the Treaty was opposed by many Irish Republicans, including Éamon de Valera, who had been the President of the Irish Republic during the Irish War of Independence. The opposition to the Treaty was led by Sinn Féin leaders, such as Constance Markievicz and Cathal Brugha, who wanted to establish an Irish Republic. The Irish Republican Army was split between those who supported the Treaty, led by Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy, and those who opposed it, led by Liam Lynch and Frank Aiken.

Causes of the War

The Anglo-Irish Treaty was the main cause of the war, as it required oath of allegiance to the British monarch and established the Irish Free State as a Dominion of the British Empire. The Treaty was opposed by many Irish Republicans, including Éamon de Valera, who wanted to establish an Irish Republic. The Sinn Féin party was split between those who supported the Treaty, led by Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins, and those who opposed it, led by Éamon de Valera and Cathal Brugha. The Irish Labour Party, led by Thomas Johnson, also opposed the Treaty and supported the Irish Republican Army. The Communist Party of Ireland, led by Roddy Connolly, also played a role in the opposition to the Treaty.

Course of the War

The war began in June 1922, when Irish Republican Army forces, led by Liam Lynch and Frank Aiken, seized the Four Courts in Dublin. The Irish Free State army, led by Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy, responded by bombarding the Four Courts and eventually capturing the building. The war then spread to other parts of the country, with Irish Republican Army forces, led by Tom Barry and Seán Moylan, fighting against the Irish Free State army, led by Emmet Dalton and Paddy Daly. The war was marked by guerrilla warfare and reprisals, with both sides committing atrocities, including the Ballyseedy massacre and the Dunmanway killings. The British Army, led by Henry Hughes Wilson, also played a role in the war, providing support to the Irish Free State army.

Aftermath

The war ended in May 1923, when the Irish Republican Army forces, led by Frank Aiken, surrendered to the Irish Free State army, led by Richard Mulcahy. The war had resulted in the deaths of many prominent Irish Republicans, including Cathal Brugha and Harry Boland. The Irish Free State government, led by W.T. Cosgrave, established a pardon for those who had fought against the Treaty, and many Irish Republicans, including Éamon de Valera, were released from prison. The Sinn Féin party was split, with Éamon de Valera forming a new party, Fianna Fáil, which would go on to dominate Irish politics for many years. The Irish Labour Party, led by Thomas Johnson, also continued to play a role in Irish politics.

Legacy

The war had a profound impact on Irish history and Irish politics. The Anglo-Irish Treaty had established the Irish Free State as a Dominion of the British Empire, but the war had shown that many Irish Republicans were opposed to this arrangement. The war had also led to the split in the Sinn Féin party, with Éamon de Valera forming a new party, Fianna Fáil. The war had also resulted in the deaths of many prominent Irish Republicans, including Cathal Brugha and Harry Boland. The Irish Civil War is still remembered today, with many Irish people commemorating the war and its victims, including Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith. The war is also remembered in literature, including the works of Ernest Hemingway and Samuel Beckett. The war is also commemorated in film, including the film Michael Collins, directed by Neil Jordan.

Category:Irish history