By May 1922 the tension between the pro and anti- Treaty sides was heating up to boiling point. The was a palpable sense, that those hostilities could erupt in to combat at any moment in the atmosphere. That did come to pass in Kilkenny City on May 2nd.

About 300 members of the IRA took the city centre, which included one of the cathedrals, the city hall and the Castle. In counteraction the The Free State Army on behest of The Provisional government took over the Barracks, Jail and the Bank of Ireland. The government sent in over 200 troops from Dublin to remove the irregulars by force if necessary. It was. Fighting broke out causing many to be injured and eighteen deaths. A ceasefire, followed by a truce was negotiated and the fighting drew to a halt.

Under the instruction of the provisional government 200 troops were dispatched by train to Kilkenny. It was not a peaceful operation as a shootout ensued with a total of 18 casualties. The following day civil war is just about prevented when the Anti-Treaty members of the Dail announce a truce.

At the other side of the country there after the IRA enter and rob a bank in Buncrana, Donegal. There was a shootout between them and the Free State Army, in which two members of the IRA and young female civilian are killed and numerous injured. Again troops are sent in from the Free State Army, but were ambushed at Newtowncunningham, and three are killed.

As May 1922 progressed there was a spate of bank raids by the IRA, around the country. In one such raid in Westport, the irregulars left a note stating that as the state refused to finance them, they were only taking the money to cover their expenses.

As the violent flare ups around the country continued it was becoming increasingly clear that civil war could easily break out in an instant. A ‘pact’ was drawn up between Eamonn de Valera and Michael Collins, to establish the most peaceful way forward. The agreement resulted in the call for a general election, with view to forming a coalition party which would include both the pro and anti-Treatyites. The move allowed the public to have their say on the Treaty and the general politics of the new state. Polling day was set for June 16th. But as May drew to a close even Michael Collins had his doubts about a peaceful outcome. He told a reporter from the Chicago Tribune: “If this peace conference fails, then there will be no other, and we will have to take strong action to restore order in the country.”

Sources

Kilkenny Moderator 06 May 1922

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 06 May 1922

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 06 May 1922

Freeman’s Journal 19 May 1922

Weekly Irish Times 20 May 1922

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 20 May 1922

Today in Irish History, The Truce, 11 July 1921