Irish Republican Army (1922-1969)

:This article deals with the Irish republican organisation opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, styling itself Irish Republican Army, as it existed from the time of the Treaty in 1921 to the split between the Official Irish Republican Army and the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1969. See List of IRAs for a full list of organisations using the name.

The Civil War

:Main article: Irish Civil War

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Public support for the Treaty settlement and the new Irish Free State was reflected in the victory of the pro-Treaty side in general elections in 1922 and 1923. In April 1922, anti-Treaty forces controversially seized a number of public buildings in Dublin, most notably the Four Courts. The Four Courts garrison kidnapped a pro-Treaty general, JJ O'Connell. This provocation co-incided with the assassination in London of Sir Henry Wilson by an IRA unit, which led to an increase in British pressure for decisive action against the dissidents. The government decided to act, and the Civil War thus started with pro-Treaty forces bombarding the Four Courts, whose garrison surrendered after a few days.

Related Topics:
Irish Free State - 1922 - 1923 - Dublin - Four Courts - Sir Henry Wilson

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The Republicans soon lost most of the territory they initially controlled. The National Army was quickly expanded, recruiting Irish National Volunteer ex-servicemen from the British Army amongst others. Additionally, the British met its requests for armoured cars, artillery, aeroplanes and, crucially, boats that allowed it to capture centres such as Cork city without passing through the Republican-controlled hinterland. Furthermore, without the public support that had existed during the War of Independence, the Irregulars found that they could not sustain a guerrilla war such as that fought against Britain.

Related Topics:
National Volunteer - War of Independence

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However, the conduct of the Civil War resulted in long-lasting bitterness on both sides. In September special emergency legislation came into effect under which military tribunals were empowered to order executions. The head of the anti-Treaty forces, Liam Lynch, responded with an announcement that Free State TDs and senators who had voted for the legislation would be targeted. A number of members of the Oireachtas were killed and the property of parliamentarians burnt. The Government, for its part, executed 77 Anti-Treaty prisoners. Government forces also carried out a number of atrocities against captured Irregulars.

Related Topics:
Liam Lynch - TD

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Eventually, on May 24 1923 the Irregulars received an order, issued by Frank Aiken, their chief-of-staff, to "dump arms". Eamon de Valera supported this in his speech "Legion of the Rearguard"{{ref|rear}}:

Related Topics:
May 24 - 1923 - Frank Aiken

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In de Valera's words, "Further sacrifice of life would now be vain and continuance of the struggle in arms unwise in the national interest and prejudical to the future of our cause. Military victory must be allowed to rest for the moment with those who have destroyed the Republic. Other means must be sought to safeguard the nation's right."{{ref|dump}}

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By this time many of the Irregulars were already prisoners of the Free State government led by W.T. Cosgrave; many more were arrested after they dumped arms and returned to civilian life. The prisoners were released over the following period, with Eamon De Valera last to leave Kilmainham Gaol in 1924. In 1926, after failing to persuade Sinn Féin to participate in the political institutions of the Free State, de Valera formed a new political party, called Fianna Fáil, and many Sinn Féin and IRA members left to support him. De Valera would in 1932 become President of the Executive Council, at the head of the first Fianna Fáil government.

Related Topics:
W.T. Cosgrave - Kilmainham Gaol - 1924 - 1926 - Fianna Fáil - 1932 - President of the Executive Council

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