Monthly Archives: May 2023

One Hundred Years ago

On this day, one hundred years ago, the Civil War ended. It concluded with a ceasefire rather than any formal ending. The ten-month conflict claimed between 1,500 and 1,700 lives, including civilians, while the real number of fatalities is unknown and likely higher. It ended the lives of many prominent figures such as Michael Collins, Liam Lynch, Cathal Brugha, and Arthur Griffith; although the latter died of natural causes, the stresses of the conflict contributed in no small part

The effects of the civil war were numerous and immeasurable. The passage of time has gone some distance towards healing the animosity between both sides. For many years, the Irish population hardly ever mentioned it, as it was perceived as taboo, although there were attempts in political circles.

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 15 August 1936

Sources

https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/Art-and-Industry-Collections/Exploring-the-Irish-Wars,-1919-1923/Bitter-Divisions/The-End-of-the-Civil-War

https://www.theirishstory.com/2012/07/02/the-irish-civil-war-a-brief-overview/#.ZGKeHx17nVo

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 15 August 1936

North Star (Darlington) 29 August 1922

Read more:https://www.theirishstory.com/2022/06/11/book-review-spiritual-wounds-trauma-testimony-and-the-irish-civil-war/#.ZGPmKh17nVo

Read More: https://www.theirishstory.com/2012/07/02/the-irish-civil-war-a-brief-overview/#.ZGKeHx17nVo

End in Sight

Frank Aiken later when he was Minister for Defence

As April 1923 faded into May, the anti-Treatyites campaign against the National Army began to lose its potency. By then, it was more of a destruction of property than a felony against the person. A great number of republicans were captured and imprisoned, and more were demoralised by the adverse conditions they existed under in the mountainous terrain of the south and west of Ireland. After the death of IRA leader Liam Lynch in April 1923, Frank Aiken, his successor, prompted his comrades to stand down. It was becoming obvious that victory was not theirs.

Sources

https://www.theirishstory.com/2012/07/02/the-irish-civil-war-a-brief-overview/#.ZFVTCx17nVo

Weekly Dispatch (London) 29 April 1923

Irish Independent 17 August 1932