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Unit 8: the Treaty and the Irish Civil War December 1921-May 1923

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Unit 8: the Treaty and the Irish Civil War December 1921-May 1923 Unit 8: The Treaty and the Irish Civil War December 1921-May 1923 Transition Year Project Book Part II Contents Lesson 4 Phase 2: The Battle for Munster, July-August 1922 3 Documents and Maps 4 Comprehension Questions 8 Reporting the Civil War Newspaper Template 10 Lesson 5 The Death of Michael Collins, 22 August 1922 Documents and Maps 11 Comprehension Questions and Writing task 14 Lesson 6 Phase 3: Guerrilla Warfare, Sept 1922-May 1923 15 Document and Maps 16 Comprehension Questions 24 Task 6: Pros and Cons 26 Resources for Secondary Schools PHASE 2: JULY-AUGUST 1922 - THE BATTLE es of Bruff and Bruree during which Free State forces under the command of Eoin O’Duffy placed the ATIRA FOR MUNSTER under intense pressure. IRA units evacuated Dublin in early July 1922 and re- sea landings publicans were able to consolidate their control of Munster and the west. Isolated pro-Treaty units in Li- The republican positions finally broke after the NA stowel and Sligo were quickly overwhelmed and the conducted surprise sea landings in Kerry and Cork Anti-Treaty IRA (ATIRA) held a defensive line across in early August. The ATIRA had anticipated such an Munster, anchored by the cities of Limerick in the west assault, but the flimsy republican defences were no and Waterford in the east. The ATIRA Republican forc- match for determined NA troops. Government forces es were comprised of numerous brigade and battalion arriving at Fenit, County Kerry captured Tralee after a columns, usually numbering between twenty-five and brief but difficult fight on 2 August. A more ambitious fifty fighters, forming a loosely organized IRA ‘field assault occurred on 8 August, when Emmet Dalton army’. It faced rapidly-growing NA forces that were organized three simultaneous landings of Free State well-armed with artillery and armoured vehicles. troops at Youghal, Union Hall, and Passage West in County Cork. The NA easily defeated republican forc- the fall of limerick and waterford cities es at Youghal and Union Hall but faced much more determined resistance while trying to seize Cork city. The NA won a critical victory during the ten-day Bat- During the three-day ‘Battle of Douglas’ on the city’s tle of Limerick, which ended on 21 July. On the same outskirts, hundreds of troops faced each other, though day they captured Waterford city. Over the next two once again Free State artillery and armoured cars weeks, the NA methodically pushed the republicans proved decisive and the republicans evacuated Cork. back in Tipperary, Limerick, and Waterford, capturing Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel in the process. The most The Limerick/Waterford line collapsed completely, intense fighting occurred during the two-week Battle as many of its front line units moved back to engage of Kilmallock, which extended into the nearby villag- with the NA’s amphibious offensive behind them. While Emmet Dalton’s forces aggressively pushed in- land across County Cork, Eoin O’Duffy’s forces around Kilmallock moved south. The Free State won a de- cisive victory but failed to destroy republican resis- tance. When Lynch ordered his forces to resume guer- rilla tactics in mid-August, he was able to mobilize enough seasoned IRA fighters to make much of the province ungovernable. One of the republicans’ first guerrilla successes had immense political ramifica- tions. When the ATIRA ambushed and killed the Free State Commander-in-Chief Michael Collins’ at Béal na [Source: National Library of Ireland, HoG 109] Blá on 22 August both sides understood that though National Army soldiers and barefoot children in Bruff, County Limerick, following the the Battle of Munster was over, it had been replaced taking of the town from the anti-Treaty IRA in early August 1922 by a guerrilla war. Atlas of the Irish Revolution Resources for Schools p. 3 -Document M- Edited Extracts from an tÓglách, 22 July 1922 The National Army continued to publish the pre-split IRA news sheet. This edition gives an account of National Army military successes and advances after the Battle of Dublin, and challenges reports by republican news sheet, Poblacht na hÉireann in early July 1922. THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ARMY. [Vol. IV No. 7] (New Series) JULY 22, 1922 [PRICE: TWOPENCE] FICTION AND FACT The Big Advance During the early days of the fighting in Dublin it was sought to strengthen the mo- rale of the Irregulars by the daily publication of Irregular "victories" and "advances" he initial successes of the Army in Dublin have in the Provinces. Since the re-establishment of communications with many parts Tbeen followed during the past ten days by many of the country, and the unrestricted circulation of newspapers in Dublin, there has important achievements in the Provinces. In some been a decided fallling off in the circulation of this type of "news." instances, whole counties like Wexford and Louth have been cleared of Irregulars during one week. On the eastern sea-board the Army has established A brief review of the war reports circulated by the Irregulars early in the present complete control. Louth, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow month and the military situation in the country as it exists to-day, provides an in- and Wexford being strongly held. A remarkable teresting and instructive contrast. feature of the campaign in this area, has been the small resistance offered by Irregulars in centres such The facts are the Irregulars were not rein- July 2: The Irregulars' News Sheet (No. 6) as Gorey, Enniscorthy, and Baltinglass ... Those who forced by either men or material in Dublin. reported that "the forces operating in Dub- have [boasted] most of dying for Ireland during the All posts held in the city were surrendered lin have been reinforced with both men and past few months have found it much more convenient or evacuated, many of the Irregulars re- material. For military reasons no further to fly a White Flag for Ireland ... information can be given on this subject at treating to the country. the present time." In the Midlands. The situation in the Midlands is entirely reassuring. On the same date (July 2nd) the Irregulars' After seventeen days have elapsed the Here, as in the Eastern areas, those Irregulars who News Sheet announced to all and sundry troops are still holding out in Galway. In were not captured have found it more gallant to that the troops in Galway were appealing fact, they have occupied Renmore Barracks retreat southwards and westwards than attempt to for reinforcements to G.H.Q.,"as they are in Galway city, and other posts in the coun- withstand the advance of the troops. All the Midland being strongly pressed by our troops (the ty from which the Irregulars have retreat- counties, including Meath, Westmeath, Kildare, Irregulars) and cannot hold out much lon- ed. The ways of Irregular propagandists are Longford, Leix and Offally are controlled by the ger. The West's awake!" strange. Army. Birr and Tullamore are isolated posts held by the Irregulars in Offally, but at the time of writing it is reported that Birr is being evacuated. Under date July 8rd (No. 7) the Irregular The plan of campaign has developed exact- ly to the extent that the Irregulars now hold In all the areas in which the Army is in control News Sheet says: "The Republican plan of peace and security to life and property, have been campaign is developing exactly as intend- no posts in Dublin city or county, and that the [National] Army controls the entire restored. Everywhere they have entered the Troops ed. The defence of the Four Courts enabled have been extended a warm welcome by the people. all the manoeuvres to be carried out whilst Eastern and Midland Counties. At the mo- ment the troops are operating successfully In word and in deed the troops have shown that the whole of the Free State Army was con- they are the protectors, not the suppressors, of the centrated upon the attack." against the Irregular strongholds in the ex- treme South and West. people's rights and liberties. The South and West. In one of the early "News" sheets published Capt. O'Grady, one of the officers stationed In the extreme south and west large tracts of by the Irregulars, it was announced the in Listowel ... has reported the facts of country are still held by Irregulars who have been post occupied by troops in Listowel had this case ... The barrack was attacked by strengthened by those who retreated from Dublin, the been captured, and that the troops had a strong force of Irregulars drawn from a Midlands and Eastern counties. This area comprises thrown in their lot with the Irregulars. This wide area. For four hours the garrison held the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Waterford, a large mythical "victory" was too good to be lost out ... There was no "union" with the Ir- portion of Mayo, Tipperary, Limerick and portions sight of, and accordingly, on July 14th, the regulars after the surrender. The truth is of Galway and Sligo ... From the Midlands, the Irregular propagandists again declared that Capt. O'Grady, with more than 100 of his Eastern Counties, Galway and Clare the Troops are "the capture of Listowel was followed by a men are now serving with the Army in now operating against the Irregulars in the south and union of the two forces." Limerick ... So much for the Listowel fable. West. http://antoglach.militaryarchives.ie/ - Document N- Typescript copy of a letter written by Harry Boland on 13 July 1922 to "Sally", a recipient in the USA Somewhere in Ireland, July 13, 1922.
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