Irish Civil War 1922-23

• Due to the Treaty, the Dail and the IRA had been split. IRA members supporting the Treaty were Regulars, and IRA members against the treaty were Irregulars. Both sides began to occupy empty British barracks countrywide.
• The Irish Civil War, 1922-1923 (1):

  • In April 1922, Irregulars led by Rory O'Connor occupied the Four Courts and other major Dublin buildings, in protest of the acceptance of the Treaty.
  • Collins, the leader of the pro-treaty Free State Army, was reluctant to attack his former colleagues. He held off the election until June 1922. In the election, it was proved that many were in support (92 for, 36 against) of the Treaty.
  • In the same week, a Unionist, Henry Wilson was assassinated and General O'Connell of the Free State Army was kidnapped.
• (2)

  • On 28 June 1922, Collins attacked the occupied Four Courts with artillery borrowed from Britain. This marked the beginning of war.
  • Within two days, the Irregulars in the Four Courts surrendered and evacuated (they yielded) the major Dublin buildings. 64 died in the Civil War, including Cathal Brugha.
  • Rory O'Connor was replaced by Liam Lynch as Chief of the Irregulars. De Valera condemned the government's actions and supported the Irregulars of the IRA.
  • Irregulars went to Munster, where support was prevalent. The Munster Republic was established south of the Limerick-Waterford line.
• (3):

  • The Irregulars recruited many in Munster, growing to 60k. Cork fell to the Free State Army on 12 August. They were driven out of the barracks and retreated to the countryside.
  • The End - On 12 August 1922, Griffith died of a brain haemorrhage. His death was a shocker and great loss as he founded Sinn Fein and was a key person in the making of the Dail.
  • Ten days later, Collins was killed in an ambush in Beal na Blath, Cork. His funeral, attended by 500k, was on 28 August 1922. Both Collins and Griffith were buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
• • In October 1922, The Free State government passed the Special Powers Act, allowing the government to imprison any IRA member for their actions. This caused the arrest of 12k Irregulars.
  • Liam Lynch was killed in April 1923. A ceasefire was agreed on, on 24 May 1923.
• Consequences:

  • Death and damage - roughly 1500 were killed and €38 million of damage occurred to buildings
  • Divided country - families and friends were split across the Treaty. This created bitter divisions.
  • Border - the partition between Northern Ireland and the Republic stayed the same, angering many.