DUBLIN - Ireland 2014 - page 114

and Connolly) are executed, Irish public opinion reverses as sympathy grows for the
martyrs and the cause of Irish Independence.
Two important rebel leaders escape execution. New Yorkborn Eamon de Valera
is spared because of his American passport (the British don't want to anger their
potential ally in World War I). Michael Collins, a low-ranking rebel officer who
fought in the uprising at the General Post Office, refines urban guerrillawarfare
strategies in prison, and then blossoms after his release as the rebels' military and
intelligence leader in the power vacuum that followed the executions.
1918: World War I ends and a general election is held in Ireland. Outside of Ul-
ster, the nationalist Sinn Fein party wins 73 out of 79 seats in Parliament. Only 4
out of 32 counties vote to maintain the Union with Britain (all 4 are in Ulster, part
of which would become Northern Ireland). Rather than take their seats in London,
SinnFeinrepresentatives abstain fromparticipating inagovernment theyseeasfor-
eign occupiers.
1919: On January 19, the abstaining Sinn Fein members set up a rebel govern-
ment in Dublin called Dail Eireann. On the same day, the first shots of the Irish
War of Independence are fired as rebels begin ambushing police barracks, which
are seen as an extension of British rule. De Valera is elected by the Dail to lead the
rebels, with Collins as his deputy. Collins' web of spies infiltrates British intelli-
gence at Dublin Castle. The Volunteers rename themselves the Irish Republican
Army; meanwhile the British beef up their military presence in Ireland by sending
in tough WWI vets, the Black and Tans. A bloody and very personal war ensues.
1921: Having lived through the slaughter of World War I, the British tire of the
extended bloodshed in Ireland and begin negotiations with the rebels. De Valera
leads rebel negotiations, but then entrusts them to Collins (a clever politician, de
Valera sees that whoever signs a treaty will be blamed for its compromises). Under-
standing the tricky position he's been placed in, Collins signs the Anglo - Irish
Treaty in December, lamenting that in doing so he has signed his “own death war-
rant.”
The Dail narrowly ratifies the treaty (64 to 57), but Collins' followers are unable
to convince de Valera's supporters that the compromises are a stepping stone to later
full independence. De Valera and his anti-treaty disciples resign in protest. Arthur
Griffith, founder of Sinn Fein, assumes the presidential post.
In June, the anti-treaty forces, holed up in the Four Courts building, are fired
upon by Collins and his pro-treaty forces—thus igniting the Irish Civil War. The
British want the treaty to stand and even supply Collins with cannons, meanwhile
threatening to re-enter Ireland if the anti-treaty forces aren't put down.
1922: In August, Griffith dies of stress-induced illness, and Collins is assassin-
ated 10 days later. Nevertheless, the pro-treaty forces prevail, as they are backed by
popular opinion and better (British-supplied) military equipment.
1923: In April, the remaining IRA forces dump (or stash) their arms, ending the
civilwar...butmanyoftheirbittervetsvowtocarryonthefight.DeValeradistances