Irish Civil War

The Irish Civil War (June 1922–April 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of today's Republic of Ireland. Opponents of the Treaty objected to the fact that it retained constitutional links between the United Kingdom and Ireland, and that the six counties of Northern Ireland would not be included in the Free State. The Civil War cost the lives of more than had died in the War of Independence that preceded it. It left Irish society deeply divided and its influence in Irish politics can still be seen to this day.

Cost and Results

The Civil War, though short, was bloody. It cost the lives of many senior figures, including Michael Collins. Both sides carried out brutal acts: the anti-treaty forces murdered TDs (MPs) and burned many historic homes (such as the famous Moore Hall in Mayo, because its owner had become a senator); the government executed anti-treaty prisoners, officially and unofficially. The pro-treaty National Army suffered 800 fatalities and perhaps as many as 4000 people were killed. As their forces retreated the Irregulars caused much destruction and the economy of the Free State suffered a hard blow in the earliest days of its existence as a result. In addition, about 12,000 Republicans were interned by the end of the Civil War, most of whom were not released until 1924.

Related Topics:
Mayo - Interned

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, it has also been argued that the Irish Civil War could have been far worse than it actually was. The numbers killed were relatively modest by the standards of other contemporary civil wars - for example in Russia and Spain. Moreover, the fact the new Police force, the Gardai, were not involved, meant that it was possible for the Free State to establish an unarmed and politically neutral police service after the war.

Related Topics:
Russia - Spain - Gardai

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The fact that The Irish Civil War was fought between Irish Nationalist factions meant that the issue of Northern Ireland was ignored and Ireland was spared what could have been a far bloodier civil war based on ethnic and sectarian lines over the future of Ireland's six north-eastern counties. In fact, because of the Irish Civil War, Northern Ireland was able to consolidate its existence and partition of Ireland was confirmed for the forseeable future. It was only after their defeat in the Civil War that Irish Republicans seriously considered whether to take armed action against British rule in Northern Ireland.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Ethnic - Sectarian

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As with most civil wars, the internecine conflict left a bitter legacy, which continues to influence Irish politics to this day. The two largest political parties in the Republic are still Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the descendants respectively of the anti-treaty and pro-treaty forces of 1922. Until the 1970s, almost all of Ireland's prominent politicians were veterans of the civil war, a fact which poisoned the relationship between Ireland's two biggest parties. Examples of Civil War veterans include: Eamon de Valera, Todd Andrews, Sean Lemass 2, (Republican) W.T. Cosgrave, Richard Mulcahy and Kevin O'Higgins (Free State). Moreover, many of these men's sons and daughters also became politicians, meaning that the personal wounds of the civil war were felt over three generations. In the 1930s after Fianna Fail took power for the first time, it looked possible for a while that the Civil War might break out again between the IRA and the pro-Free State Blueshirts. Fortunately, this crisis was averted and by the 1950s, political violence was no longer prominent in Southern Irish politics.

Related Topics:
Fianna Fáil - Fine Gael - Eamon de Valera - Todd Andrews - Sean Lemass - 2 - W.T. Cosgrave - Richard Mulcahy - Kevin O'Higgins - IRA - Blueshirts

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, the IRA continued (and continues) to exist. Up until the 1980s it still claimed to be the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic declared in 1918 and annulled by the Treaty of 1921. Some people, notably Michael McDowell claim that this attitude, which dates from the Civil War, still underpins the politics of the Provisional IRA.

Related Topics:
Michael McDowell - Provisional IRA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~