The Irish Civil War

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Opposition to the Free State

As we have seen, de Valera resigned as President of the Republic when the Dail voted in favour of the Treaty on 7 January 1922. The Dail voted in favour of the treaty and set up a provisional government, with Collins as its chairman, while Griffith took over de Valera's place as President. The British withdrawal from southern Ireland began in January with the handing over of Dublin castle. The 'Black and Tans' left immediately, and British troops soon left handing over military properties. Much of this equipment fell into anti-treaty I.R.A. groups, who soon became known as the 'Irregulars'. As one of their leaders Liam Lynch said, 'We have declared for an Irish republic and will not live under any other law.'

The probability of bloodshed increased in March, when the 'Irregulars' held a meeting in Dublin, despite a meeting a by the provisional government. This meeting rejected the authority of the free state and declared the 'Irregulars' to be a completely independent organization. In a show of strength these 'Irregulars' took over the Four-courts building (the centre of the free state judicial system) and held it and some other buildings for the next four months in defiance of the Free state.

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The 1922 elections

Despite this challenge to the governments authority, Collins did nothing in the hope that differences could be solved without civil war. With a general election due in June, he and de Valera even made a short lived agreement which would have resulted in a coalition government of pro and anti-treaty groups.

De Valera and his fellows were stunned when the elections came out. Pro-treaty Sinn-Fein candidates won 58 seats while anti-treaty won 35 seats. 32 seats were won by other candidates. Civil war broke out after the elections. Two 'Irregulars' assassinated Sir Henry Wilson, one of the leading Ulster Unionists members of parliament and another group kidnapped one of the commanders of the Free-state army. Collins took action, he ordered the Free state army to fire shells into the 'Irregulars' holding the Four courts building in Dublin. Fighting spread to other parts of the city killing many.

The struggle lasted for a year, brother fought brother. The free state army (which was much more superior). The war collapsed communities and split Republican and free state fractions. Families were forced to leave, and the country became anarchy and chaos. When the civil-war ended in 1923 there had been over 5000 military casualties and Free state firing squads had shot over 77 'Irregulars' in reprisal for 'acts of war.'

The civil wars death toll included the two leading members of the Free-state government. Griffith died in August, 1922, the victim of over-work and severe amotional stress. Collins also died in 1923 in an ambush.

In the End the Free state won and the 'Irregulars' were condemned by the Irish Bishops. In April, the 'Irregulars' announced a cease fire. And so the civil war ended. Its legacy of distrust, suspicion and reprisal would continue to divide Irish society and politics for decades.