Ireland 1916-1923

RIC- Royal Irish Constabulary

TD’S- Members of the Dáil

IRA- Irish Republican Army

Guerrilla warfare- involved using hit and run tactics against the British forces. The local
countryside was used for cover, no uniforms were worn, and the IRA could disappear
amongst the ordinary people after an attack.

The squad- Collin’s twelve apostles, which were his assassin. They executed British spies to
prevent the British finding out the IRA's plans.

Flying columns- There were groups of up to 30 full time volunteers, who moved from place
to place to help local commanders set up ambushes. The most famous was the Kilmichael
Ambush, where a Flying Column led by Tom Barry killed 17 members of the British Army

Black and Tans- The British recruited extra police to reinforce the RIC. These men, who were
ex-soldiers, were known as the Black and Tans because they wore army khaki trousers and
RIC dark green jackets.

Auxiliaries- A temporary force of paramilitary police, made of British ex-officers/ ex-army

officers.

Bloody Sunday- On the morning of 21 November 1920 the Squad killed thirteen British
spies. That afternoon the Auxiliaries went to Croke Park looking for the killers. Dublin and
Tipperary were playing a football match. The Auxiliaries opened fire on the crowd in
retaliation for what had happened earlier that day. Fourteen people were killed. That
violent day was called Bloody Sunday.
Steppingstone theory- Is like, if we get one, they’ll give us more

Diplomat Plenipotentiary- The power to say yes or no without having to ask the Dáil.

Irregulars- One of the sides that split from the IRA, a large anti-Treaty group who agreed
with Liam (person who took over after Collins)

Free state army- The other side that split from the IRA, they were pro-treaty (agreed with
Collins)

Special Powers Act-. Kevin O'Higgins introduced a Special Powers Act. It included the death
penalty for carrying a gun or arrested if they were suspicion you had a gun (made for the
Irregulars)

Who founded Sinn Féin?

Sinn Féin had been set up by Arthur Griffith in 1905.

It wanted independence from Britain rather than Home Rule, and it wanted to achieve it by
peaceful means. Until 1916, the Party had very little support. However, it benefitted most
from the change in public opinion after the Rising. By 1917, most nationalists wanted more
than Home Rule and they joined Sinn Féin.

Why did Dev not travel for the treaty talks??

A delegation led by Arthur Griffith and including Michael Collins went to London in October
to negotiate a treaty with Britain.

Éamon de Valera decided not to go. He felt it would be better if he stayed in Dublin so that
the delegation could consult him before agreeing anything.

Who was Lloyd George?

Lloyd George was the British Prime Minister

Aims of the Irish delegation:

 To set up a republic so that Ireland would be completely independent of Britain

 To bring an end to partition and create a united Ireland.

Aims of the British delegation:

 To protect Northern Ireland so that the unionists would not revolt

 To make sure Ireland stayed in the British Commonwealth otherwise it might
encourage other dominions to leave.
Arguments in favour:
 The Treaty gave Ireland more independence than Home Rule would have done.
 Collins stated, 'It was a steppingstone to greater independence.'
 The IRA would be beaten if the war started again.
Arguments against:
 The Free State was not a republic, which was what they had fought for.
 Republicans could not swear an oath of loyalty to the king.
 Britain would interfere in Irish affairs as it was so close, and the king would be head
of state.

3 Terms of the Treaty:

  Ireland (twenty-six counties) would be called the Irish Free State.
 A Boundary Commission would be set up to decide the boundary between the Irish
Free State and Northern Ireland.
 The Free State would be part of the British Commonwealth, not a republic. This is
called dominion status.
 A governor-general would be appointed as the representative of the king in Ireland.
 British forces would withdraw from the Free State, but would keep three naval ports:
Lough Swilly, Cobh and Berehaven (The British Army would stay)

Why were they "forced" to sign?

The talks dragged on and finally, on 5 December, Lloyd George issued an ultimatum(threat).
The delegates had to accept the final terms, or an 'immediate and terrible' war would follow
within three days.

Oath of allegiance:
It was an oath of allegiance that was required from members of the Irish Parliament (The
Dáil) and civil servants. This oath acknowledged the British monarch as the head of the
Commonwealth but did not require loyalty to the British crown itself.

Why did Dev walk from the Dáil?

Dev walked away from the Dáil as he opposed the treaty and the treaty had passed, he
believed it did not go far enough in making complete Irish independence. He and the anti-
treaty side left the Dáil.