Timeline of the Irish Civil War

This is a timeline of the Irish Civil War, which took place between June 1922 and May 1923. It followed the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921), and accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The conflict was waged between two opposing groups of Irish nationalists: the forces of the new Irish Free State, who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty under which the state was established, and the republican opposition, for whom the Treaty represented a betrayal of the Irish Republic.

The government of the Irish Free State (established as a provisional government in January 1922 and as a full government in December 1922) was ultimately victorious. The anti-Treaty forces called a ceasefire in April 1923 and ordered their men to "dump arms" in May 1923.

The war involved both conventional warfare (late June–August 1922) when the Free State forces took the major towns and cities, and then a longer period of guerrilla warfare (September 1922–April 1923) as the anti-Treaty forces were gradually brought to a standstill.

Build up

January 1922

February 1922

March 1922

See also IRA and the Anglo-Irish Treaty

April 1922

May 1922

June 1922

The Four Courts, occupied by Anti-Treaty forces in April and scene of the start of the civil war in June.

Hostilities

July 1922

August 1922

Glencullen Bridge

September 1922

October 1922

November 1922

December 1922

January 1923

February 1923

March 1923

Memorial designed by Yann Goulet to the Republican soldiers killed by Free State troops at Ballyseedy, County Kerry in a mass killing of prisoners on 7 March 1923. The month of March was marked by a series of such atrocities in Kerry

April 1923

May 1923

Post war

June 1923

July 1923

August 1923

October 1923

November 1923

December 1923

January 1924

March 1924

July 1924

November 1924

Appendix

Statistics are incomplete, Free State government sources stated that between 540 and 800 National Army soldiers were killed in the war. Historian Michael Hopkinson, in Green against Green, p. 272-3, states "There are no means by which to arrive at even approximate figures for the dead and wounded. Mulcahy stated that around 540 pro-Treaty troops were killed between the Treaty's signing and the war's end; the government referred to 800 army deaths between January 1922 and April 1924. There was no record of overall Republican deaths, which appear to have been very much higher. No figure exists for total civilian deaths."

Deaths by date

Year No.
January–June 1922 11
June/July 1922 207-242
August 1922 123
September 1922 122–164
October 1922 48
November 1922 77
December 1922 34
1922 619-696
January 1923 51-61
February 1923 59
March 1923 66-69
April 1923 48-66
May 1923 5
June–December 9
1923 238-265

Total for 1922 and 1923: 857-961.

With additional statistics – fatalities by county available for: Cork 180, Kerry 185, Sligo 54, Offaly 21. Anti Treaty combatants killed in Clare: 28 (no reliable statistics for pro Treaty/Civilians).[141] Pro/Anti Treaty combatants killed between January–June 1922, 9, - 2 in Clare.[142] Casualties in County Kildare, 45 killed. (17 National Army) [143]

Additions,: Kerry + 78, Cork + 120, Sligo + 39, Offaly + 19, Clare + 27, January–June clashes + 7 = 290

Revised total: 1,147-1,251*

A range is given where casualties are reported but not confirmed.

*this is not a definitive total, but rather what could be found in this article.

Status of those killed

Deaths by status of victim
Status No.
Civilian* 86
Pro-Treaty 346
Anti-Treaty 596
unknown status 30
Total 1,058

*Civilian casualties, may be far higher, casualties for the Dublin fighting are given as 250, but it is not clear how many of these were killed and how many wounded.

See also

References

  1. New York Tribune 3 April 1922, p.1
  2. "Fierce Fighting Rages Over Dublin Buildings". The New York Times. 21 April 1922.
  3. Derry Journal, 5 May 1922
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  6. "Michael Collins, a Biography, Tim Pat Coogan P329.
  7. 7.0 7.1
  8. "Irish War Memorials". Irishwarmemorials.ie. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  9. Kieran Glennon, From Pogrom to Civil War, p205
  10. "REBELS ARE ROUTED IN DONEGAL TOWNS; Free State Troops Capture Gar- risons at Letterkenney, Buncrana and Cardonagh. ENDS BRIGANDAGE THERE Raiders Had Terrorized the District for Weeks, Frequently Holding Up Trains". The New York Times. 1 July 1922.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 "National Army Killed Civil War". Irishmedals.org. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  12. "FREE STATE TROOPS CLEAR REBEL POSTS IN NIGHT ASSAULTS; Centre of Dublin Subjected to Violent Bombardment at Early Hour This Morning. 400 PRISONERS ARE TAKEN Area Still Held by Rebels is Completely Invested and End Is Expected Today. DE VALERA IN THE DISTRICT Report of His Surrender is Denied-- Reat of Ireland Quiet, but With War Preparations in South. Closing In On All Irregulars. FREE STATE TROOPS CLEAR REBEL POSTS De Valera's Surrender Denied. 400 Prisoners Taken. Republican Leaders on the Scene. Half of Irregular Force Accounted For". The New York Times. 3 July 1922.
  13. Cormac O'Malley, No Surrenders Here  The Civil War papers of Ernie O'Malley, p 50
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 http://www.freewebs.com/duleekmonument/meathhistory19221958.htm
  15. Anglo Celt newspaper, 22 July 1922
  16. 16.0 16.1
  17. Padraig Og O Ruairc, The Battle for Limerick City, p 140–142
  18. "FREE STATE TROOPS CORNERING REBELS; Moving on Irish Irregular Forces at Fermoy and Clearing Limerick County. MASSING FOR NEW ATTACK Archbishop Prevents Insurgents From Starting Tuam Fire--Girls Killed on Border". The New York Times. 25 July 1922.
  19. 19.0 19.1 "FREE STATE TROOPS CORNERING REBELS; Moving on Irish Irregular Forces at Fermoy and Clearing Limerick County. MASSING FOR NEW ATTACK Archbishop Prevents Insurgents From Starting Tuam Fire--Girls Killed on Border". The New York Times. 25 July 1922.
  20. 20.0 20.1 http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/html/getPDF.php?memorialID=373
  21. References Ernie O'Malley's book The Singing Flame and Dundalk Democrat, 29 July 1922 http://www.jbhall.freeservers.com/1922_bombing_of_dundalk_jail.htm
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  23. Glennon, p214
  24. The Times, Plot To Isolate Dublin Fails 8 August 1922
  25. "IRISH IRREGULARS ROUTED WITH LOSS; Free State Troops Push On and Capture Newcastle West After Long Battle. DAIL MEETING IS PUT OFF Provisional Government Pays Tribute to Soldier Dead--Renewed Effort for Ulster Agreement". The New York Times. 9 August 1922.
  26. Diarmuid O'Connor, Sleep Soldier Sleep p123
  27. Anglo Celt Newspaper 19 August 1922
  28. Michael Harrinton, The Munster Republic, p. 82
  29. "TWO IRISH SOLDIERS KILLED IN AMBUSH; Two Others Are Taken Prisoner and Colonel Thornton Is Badly Wounded". The New York Times. 23 August 1922.
  30. "Sorry this website is moved to PoliceHistory.com". Esatclear.ie. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
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  32. 32.0 32.1 "WOMEN TAKE PART IN IRISH WARFARE; Some Go About Armed Others Act as Spies and Dispatch Bearer's for Irregulars. MORE AMBUSH KILLINGS Prisoners Set Fire to Jail Confining 600--Parliament Expected to Retain Ministers". The New York Times. 30 August 1922.
  33. Harrington, p. 83
  34. For all attacks in Dublin on this day, see Irish Times, 2 September 1922
  35. Tom Doyle, The Summer Campaign in Kerry p92-94
  36. 36.0 36.1 Irish Times 6 September 1922
  37. "IRELAND'S NEW DAIL WILL MEET TODAY; Elaborate Precautions Are Taken to Prevent Irregular Raid on It. CABLE TO ENGLAND IS CUT Two Rebel Forces Fight Each Other Following Disagreement Between Their Leaders". The New York Times. 9 September 1922. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  38. Anglo Celt 9 September 1922
  39. 39.0 39.1 Hart, Peter (1999-11-18). "The I.R.A. And Its Enemies: Violence and Community in Cork, 1916-1923". ISBN 9780198208068.
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  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 "National Army Killed Civil War". Irishmedals.org. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  42. Michael Farry, The Aftermath of Revolution: Sligo 192123
  43. Irish Times 23 September 1922
  44. Irish Times, 23 September 1922
  45. Anglo Celt 30 September 1922
  46. "REBELS ATTACK CAHIR.; Captain Walsh and Several Soldiers Killed--Sharp Fight in Louth". The New York Times. 4 October 1922.
  47. "West Cork Brigade". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  48. 48.0 48.1 Irish Times 7 October 1922
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  51. http://heatseekers.blogspot.ie/2013/11/state-murders-of-children-in-irelands.html
  52. O'halpin, Eunan. Defending Ireland. Oxford.
  53. Harrington p. 87
  54. The dead soldiers were; William Doyle, Patrick O'Connor, Christopher Keirans and Peter Behan, Anne Dolan, Commemorating the Irish Civil War, p121
  55. Irish Times, 20 October 1922
  56. 57.0 57.1 Irish Times, 28 October 1922
  57. Private Joseph O’Riordain died 28 October 1922. Private Edward V Kavanagh died 28 October 1922.Private Peter Byrne died 28 October 1922.
  58. "Civil War Delvin «Delvin Historical Society". Delvinhistory.com. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  59. 60.0 60.1 60.2 60.3 60.4 Irish Times, 11 November 1922
  60. "IRISH REBELS ATTACK GEN. MULCAHY'S HOME; New Campaign of Terror Is Started--Rail Tracks Are Torn Up and Post Offices Robbed". The New York Times. 4 November 1922.
  61. Tom Barry, Guerilla Days, p. 238
  62. "IRISH FORCES FIGHT IN HEART OF DUBLIN; Republicans Attack Nationals With Machine Guns and Rifles, Terrorizing City. TWO CIVILIANS ARE KILLED Troops and Attackers Suffer Heavy Losses--Mary MacSwiney Continues Hunger Strike". The New York Times. 9 November 1922.
  63. Tom Doyle, The Civil War in Kerry, p. 217
  64. Irish Times, 10 November 1922
  65. Harrington, p. 101
  66. 67.0 67.1 "Ambush in Dalkey". Dalkeyhomepage.ie. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
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  68. Irish Times, 19 November 1922
  69. "William ‘Kruger’ Graham of Ross Road". Come here to me!. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
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  71. Doyle p. 225
  72. New York Times, 5 December 1922
  73. Glennon, 226
  74. 76.0 76.1 76.2 76.3 76.4 Irish Times, 23 December 1922
  75. 77.0 77.1 "Civil War Executions". Curragh.info. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  76. Doyle, p. 234
  77. Anglo Celt 16 December 1922
  78. Lieutenant Sean Keogh died 17 December 1922. Sergeant Thomas Walsh died 17 December 1922.
  79. Serjeant Patrick White died 19 December 1922. Private James Henna died 19 December 1922. Private Patrick Mulhall died 19 December 1922. Private Frederick Luwellen died 19 December 1922.
  80. The Irish Times, 21 December 1922. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1922/1221/Pg005.html#Ar00502:53D8AC56C8C35783BB5973D34F336251837A4A55CC4CB5E45D25D05F75E8. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  81. 83.0 83.1 Anglo Celt 23 December 1922
  82. Doyle, p. 28
  83. Doyle, pp. 239240
  84. Irish Times, 29 December 1922
  85. Harrington, pp. 110112
  86. Anglo Celt 13 January 1923
  87. Anglo Celt, 6 January 1923
  88. http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/html/showPicture.php?pictureID=933
  89. Anglo Celt 27 January 1923
  90. Serjeant Patrick J Geraghty died 17 January 1923. Private Daniel Buckley died 17 January 1923. Private Robert Nash died 17 January 1923.
  91. Serjeant George Gorman died 18 January 1923 Private John Fitzgerald died 18 January 1923 Private Joseph A Foster died 18 January 1923.
  92. Doyle, p. 253
  93. Irish Times, 14 April 1923
  94. Doyle, p. 255
  95. http://www.offalyhistory.com/attachments/5_civil_war.pdf
  96. 98.0 98.1 http://www.offalyhistory.com/attachments/6_civil_war_2.pdf
  97. 99.0 99.1 Mary Tossell. "North Kerry in the Irish Civil War". Rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  98. 100.0 100.1 Irish Times, 3 February 1923
  99. Anglo Celt 3 February 1923
  100. 102.0 102.1 102.2 Irish Times, 10 February 1923
  101. "Dáil Éireann - Volume 2 - 08 February, 1923 - MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT. - THE ARMY POSITION". Historical-debates.oireachtas.ie. 1923-02-08. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
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  107. "Gen Denis Galvin (1896 - 1923) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  108. Anglo Celt, 7 March 1923
  109. 111.0 111.1 111.2 111.3 Irish Times, 10 March 1923
  110. Doyle, pp. 269270
  111. Doyle, pp. 272274
  112. Doyle, pp. 274275
  113. Irish Times, 11 March 1922
  114. Doyle, pp. 278279
  115. 117.0 117.1 117.2 117.3 Irish Times, 17 March 1923
  116. http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/html/showPicture.php?pictureID=205
  117. Irish Times, 23 March 1923
  118. 120.0 120.1 Irish Times, 31 March 1923
  119. Irish Times, 22 March 1923
  120. "Battle in Dalkey". Dalkeyhomepage.ie. 1922-11-15. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  121. 123.0 123.1 123.2 123.3 123.4 "Anti Treaty Killed Civil War". Irishmedals.org. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  122. Anglo Celt 31 March 1923
  123. Irish Times, 2 April 1923
  124. Doyle, p. 287
  125. Irish Times, 1 April 1923
  126. (Irish Times 14 April 1923)
  127. "Phoenix Publishing". Homepage.eircom.net. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
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  129. Anglo Celt 14 April 1922
  130. Tom Doyle, The Civil War in Kerry
  131. http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/html/getPDF.php?memorialID=225
  132. Irish Times, 28 April 1923
  133. Irish Times 28 April 1923
  134. Anglo Celt, 5 May 1923
  135. Anglo Celt 1 September 1923
  136. Richard Mulcahy, Oxford DNB
  137. fate of "Moon Car"
  138. Shooting
  139. O Ruairc p326-327
  140. Niall Harrington, p22
  141. James Durney, The Civil War in Kildare, p14-15

Sources