The War of Independence 1: A Deep Dive into Causes and Key Events

Perhaps the most important series of events to cover in this unit purely because of the number of consequences attached to it. This suite of notes will cover various personalities and events to make your study more focused and content-driven.

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The Causes and Outbreak of the War

• The Irish War of Independence, which began in January 1919, was the culmination of decades of growing nationalist sentiment and frustration with British rule in Ireland.
• The immediate causes of the war can be traced back to the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising and the political shifts that followed.
• The Rising, though militarily unsuccessful, sparked a significant change in public opinion, leading to widespread disillusionment with the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) and its moderate Home Rule approach.
• The 1918 General Election was a watershed moment, as Sinn Féin, advocating for full independence, won a landslide victory.
• This result clearly mandated independence and set the stage for conflict. The establishment of the First Dáil Éireann on 21 January 1919 and its declaration of an independent Irish Republic directly challenged British authority in Ireland.
• On the same day, an ambush at Soloheadbeg in County Tipperary by members of the Irish Volunteers, later known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), marked the beginning of armed resistance against British forces.
• A combination of political, economic, and social factors fuelled the war. Nationalists were increasingly frustrated by British intransigence, particularly after the failure of the Irish Convention (1917-1918) and the British government's attempts to impose conscription during World War I.
• Additionally, the post-war economic downturn and the influence of global movements for self-determination contributed to the urgency of the independence cause.
• As the war progressed, it became a guerrilla conflict, with the IRA employing hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, and assassinations against British forces and their supporters.
• The conflict was characterised by its brutality, with both sides engaging in reprisals and atrocities.
  • The war would continue until the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, which led to the creation of the Irish Free State but also set the stage for the subsequent Irish Civil War.

The Role of Michael Collins and the Response of Lloyd George

• Michael Collins was one of the most significant figures in the Irish War of Independence, playing a central role in the military and political strategies that shaped the conflict. Born in 1890 in County Cork, Collins was a key member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and served as the Director of Intelligence for the Irish Republican Army (IRA). His leadership and tactical brilliance were instrumental in the success of the IRA's guerrilla warfare campaign against British forces.
• Collins' approach to the war was characterised by his use of intelligence, espionage, and targeted assassinations.
• He established a network of spies and informants within the British administration in Dublin, which allowed the IRA to carry out precise and often deadly operations.
• One of his most notable achievements was the creation of The Squad, a specialised unit tasked with eliminating British intelligence agents known as the Cairo Gang.
• These actions severely hampered British efforts to suppress the IRA and maintain control over Ireland.
• British Prime Minister David Lloyd George responded to the escalating violence with a mixture of repression and negotiation.
• His government introduced increasingly draconian measures to combat the IRA, including martial law and the deployment of additional troops, such as the notorious Black and Tans and Auxiliaries.
• These forces were tasked with crushing the rebellion but often resorted to brutal and indiscriminate violence, which further alienated the Irish population.
• Lloyd George also recognised the need for a political solution to the conflict.
• After initial refusals to negotiate, he eventually opened talks with Sinn Féin leaders, including Collins, in the summer of 1921.
• These negotiations culminated in the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921.
  • The treaty granted Ireland dominion status as the Irish Free State, but the compromise it represented—particularly the inclusion of an oath of allegiance to the British Crown—led to deep divisions within the Irish nationalist movement and set the stage for the Irish Civil War.

Who Were the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries?

• The Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries were paramilitary forces deployed by the British government during the Irish War of Independence to supplement the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and suppress the growing insurgency led by the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
• These forces became infamous for their brutality and their heavy-handed tactics, which further fueled nationalist resistance and increased support for the IRA.
• The Black and Tans were recruited in late 1919 and early 1920 from British army veterans who had served in World War I. Named for their distinctive uniforms—comprising a mix of dark green RIC tunics and khaki military trousers—the Black and Tans were initially brought in to reinforce the undermanned RIC.
• However, many of the recruits were untrained in police work and ill-prepared for the guerrilla warfare they encountered in Ireland. They quickly gained a reputation for their violent reprisals against civilians, especially in response to IRA attacks.
• Their tactics included house burnings, looting, and indiscriminate shootings, which often targeted innocent civilians and led to widespread terror in the Irish countryside.
• The Auxiliaries, officially known as the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary (ADRIC), were an elite force composed of former British officers, many of whom had also served in World War I.
• Established in July 1920, the Auxiliaries were intended to be a more disciplined and effective counter-insurgency force. However, they, too, became notorious for their brutality and ruthlessness.
• The Auxiliaries were involved in some of the most infamous incidents of the war, including the Burning of Cork in December 1920 and the Croke Park massacre on Bloody Sunday, where they opened fire on a crowd during a football match, killing 14 people.
• Both the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries played a significant role in the escalation of violence during the Irish War of Independence.
• Their actions contributed to the cycle of violence and reprisals that characterised the conflict, and their presence further alienated the Irish population from British rule.
• The brutality of these forces was a key factor in the British government's eventual decision to seek a negotiated settlement, which led to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921.

Who Was Kevin Barry?

• Kevin Barry was a young Irish nationalist and medical student who became one of the most iconic martyrs of the Irish War of Independence.

• Born in Dublin on 20 January 1902, Barry was deeply influenced by the rising tide of Irish nationalism from an early age. He joined the Irish Volunteers (later known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA)) as a teenager and became actively involved in the struggle for Irish independence.

• On 20 September 1920, Barry, then just 18 years old, participated in an ambush on British soldiers at Monks Bakery in Dublin.

  

• The operation aimed to seize a supply of weapons, but it went wrong when British reinforcements arrived unexpectedly. In the ensuing chaos, Barry was captured while trying to escape. During the ambush, three British soldiers were killed, and Barry was subsequently charged with their murder.

• Despite his youth, Barry was tried in a military court and found guilty. His trial and treatment became a focal point for both the British authorities and the Irish nationalist movement.

• Barry refused to provide any information about his comrades during his interrogation, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the cause.

• His case attracted widespread attention, and there were numerous appeals for clemency, particularly given his age.

• Nevertheless, the British authorities were determined to make an example of Barry as part of their broader strategy to suppress the independence movement.

• On 1 November 1920, Kevin Barry was executed by hanging in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin. He was the first IRA volunteer to be executed during the War of Independence, and his death had a profound impact on public sentiment in Ireland.

• Barry's execution fuelled anger and resentment toward British rule and further galvanised support for the IRA. His martyrdom was immortalised in the famous ballad "Kevin Barry," which became a rallying cry for Irish republicans.

• Barry's sacrifice highlighted the brutal realities of the struggle for independence and solidified his place in the pantheon of Irish national heroes.

"I did what was right, and I stand by it." - Kevin Barry

Bloody Sunday (November 1920): The Events and Consequences

• Bloody Sunday, which took place on 21 November 1920, was one of the most significant and brutal days of the Irish War of Independence, marked by a series of violent events that had far-reaching consequences for both the British and Irish sides.
• The day began with a coordinated operation by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) under the direction of Michael Collins.
• Collins, as the head of the IRA's intelligence network, had identified key members of the Cairo Gang, a group of British intelligence agents and informers who were tasked with infiltrating and disrupting the IRA. Early on the morning of Bloody Sunday, Collins ordered the assassination of these British operatives.
• IRA units simultaneously raided multiple locations across Dublin, killing 14 British intelligence officers and agents. The operation was a significant blow to British intelligence efforts and demonstrated the effectiveness of Collins' network.
• Later that afternoon, British forces retaliated in a shocking and brutal manner. During a Gaelic football match at Croke Park in Dublin, a combined force of Auxiliaries and RIC members entered the stadium and opened fire on the crowd.
• The attack left 14 civilians dead and injured many others. This massacre was intended to send a message of British power and control but instead had the opposite effect, further turning public opinion in Ireland and abroad against British rule.
• That evening, in another act of reprisal, the British forces executed three IRA prisoners in Dublin Castle.
• These events collectively marked Bloody Sunday as a day of unparalleled violence in the war. They underscored the escalating cycle of action and reaction between the British forces and the IRA.
• The consequences of Bloody Sunday were profound. The British government's violent response to the IRA's actions intensified the conflict and further alienated the Irish population from British rule.
• Internationally, the events of Bloody Sunday attracted widespread condemnation, particularly in the United States, where Irish-American communities rallied to support the cause of Irish independence.
• The day's violence also demonstrated the effectiveness of the IRA's guerrilla tactics, which would continue to be a key strategy throughout the remainder of the war.

"It is my duty to make war, and I shall make it as ruthless and terrible as possible." - Michael Collins

Guerilla Warfare and the Flying Columns

• Guerilla warfare was the primary tactic employed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of Independence, and it played a critical role in the IRA's ability to sustain a prolonged conflict against the better-equipped British forces.
• This unconventional warfare strategy involved small, mobile units of fighters using hit-and-run tactics to harass and wear down the enemy rather than engaging in conventional battles.
• The concept of flying columns was central to the IRA's guerrilla strategy. These were small, highly mobile units composed of dedicated volunteers who lived on the run, moving constantly to avoid capture by British forces.
• Flying columns typically numbered between 20 and 100 men and were responsible for carrying out ambushes, raids, and attacks on British military convoys, police stations, and other targets of opportunity.
• These units operated primarily in rural areas, where they could take advantage of the terrain and the local population's support.
• As the IRA's Director of Intelligence, Michael Collins played a key role in organising and directing these flying columns.
• He understood that the IRA could not hope to defeat the British Army in open battle but could instead undermine British authority through a war of attrition.
• The flying columns disrupted British supply lines, inflicted casualties on their forces, and created a constant sense of insecurity among British troops and their supporters.
• One of the most famous flying columns was led by Tom Barry in County Cork, where it carried out some of the most effective and daring operations of the war, including the Kilmichael Ambush in November 1920, which resulted in the deaths of 17 members of the Auxiliaries.
• These actions not only weakened British morale but also demonstrated the IRA's ability to strike effectively, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
• The success of the guerrilla tactics and flying columns forced the British government to recognise that the conflict could not be won by military means alone.
• The persistence and effectiveness of the IRA's campaign eventually led to negotiations that culminated in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921, which ended the war and established the Irish Free State.

"The guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win." - Tom Barry