Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Civil War
The terms of - and the circumstances surrounding - the Treaty that ended the War of
Independence make up the single most divisive episode in Irish politics, one that still
breeds prejudice, inflames passions and shapes the political landscape in parts of the coun-
try.
After months of argument and facing the threat of, in the words of British Prime Minister
Lloyd George, an 'immediate and terrible war', the Irish negotiating team, led by Michael
Collins, signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921. Instead of establishing the
Irish Republic for which the IRA had fought, it created an Irish Free State, effectively a
British dominion, in which members of the newly constituted parliament would have to
swear allegiance to the British Crown before they could participate in government. The six
counties comprising Northern Ireland were given the choice of becoming part of the Free
State or remaining in the United Kingdom; they chose the latter, sowing the seeds of dis-
content that would lead to further rounds of the Troubles in the North. Although Collins
was dissatisfied with the deal, he hoped it would be the 'first real step' in the journey to-
wards an Irish republic. Nevertheless, he also foresaw trouble and remarked prophetically
that 'I've just signed my own death warrant'.
De Valera vehemently opposed the Treaty and the two erstwhile comrades were pitted
against one another into pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty camps. Although the Dáil narrowly rati-
fied the Treaty and the electorate accepted it by a large majority, Ireland slid into civil war
during June 1922.
Ironically, the Civil War was more brutal than the struggle that preceded it. In 11 months
roughly 3000 Irish died - including 77 state executions - but the vindictive nature of the
fighting left indelible scars that have yet to be fully healed. The assassination of Michael
Collins in his home county of Cork on 22 August, 1922 rocked the country; 500,000 people
(almost one-fifth of the population) attended his funeral. The last few months of fighting
were especially ugly, with both sides engaging in tit-for-tat atrocities. On May 24, 1923, de
Valera ordered the anti-Treaty forces to drop their arms.
The Civil War began when anti-Treaty IRA forces occupied Dublin's Four Courts and were shelled by pro-
Treaty forces, led by MIchael Collins. Dublin, which escaped any real damage during the War of Independ-
ence, became a primary theatre of the Civil War, which cost the lives of 250 Dubliners.
 
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