Dáil Éireann and the War of Independence After the 1918 General Election, Eamonn de Valera and Michael Collins, who had fought in the GPO, led Sinn Féin. The party had promised not to send any MP’s to Westminster so they set up the first Dáil on the 21st January 1919. Here they did the following: Declaration of Independence A message to the Free Nations of the World A programme to improve living and working conditions

Sinn Féin and the First Dail 1st April, 1919, DeValera was elected president (i.e. Prime Minister/Taoiseach) Arthur Griffith was Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs (in charge of the police) Michael Collins was Minister for Finance (government spending and taxes) Countess Markieviec, the only female TD, was Minister for Labour. Cathal Grugha was minister for defence; in charge of the Volunteers, later to be known as the Irish Republican Army or IRA.

The British Response Prime Minister David Lloyd (left picture) and the British government declared the Dáil illegal. He easily persuaded European countries not to recognise Ireland as a republic or help. While America did not wish to help directly (Isolationism – same reason they didn’t want to get involved in WW2), De Valera managed to raise 4 million dollars on a trip there in 1919.

The War of Independence While the politicians had dreams of independence through peaceful means, some Volunteers were convinced violence was the answer. Same day of First Dail, two poilicemen were ambushed and killed by the Volunteers/IRA in Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary and the dynamite they were protectiing was stolen. After the Easter Rising, nobody believed they could opposed the English forced in direct combat. They had too many weapons and men. ‘Guerrilla’ or ambush tactics were used instead.

Some key words ‘Flying Column’: was a small group of IRA men who travelled the countryside attacking the police and army. ‘The Squad’: was a small group of assassins who shot British spies. It was set up by Michael Collins, who was the Director of Intelligence for the volunteers (in charge of spies). Black and Tans: British soldiers who came to Ireland to fight the IRA. (The British response was to hire more policemen. Llyod hired people in Britian (unemployed after WW1). Because there were not enough uniforms, they wore dark green police and khaki army uniforms (blank and tan).

Bloody Sunday – 21st November 1920 It was a violent war on both sides. 1920 – IRA killed 182 policemen, many of whom were Black and Tans. In response, Black and Tans arrested, beat up and shot people as well as burnt down houses, smashed up towns, etc. 1920 – ‘the squad’ killed 13 British spies. In response, the Black and Tans went to a GAA game, suspected the killers were in the crowd and opened fire. Twelve people were killed. Others were arrested and later ‘died’ trying to escape (were executed secretly?).

Peace - 1921 People wanted peace. IRA out of ammo and short of men. Bad publicity for British Gov. Costing a lot of money DeValera and Lloyd George agreed a ceasefire.