The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 – May 24, 1923) was a conflict that followed the Irish War of Independence and accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State, an entity independent from the United Kingdom but within the British Empire.
The civil war was waged between two opposing groups, the pro-treaty Provisional Government and the anti-treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA), over the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The forces of the Provisional Government (which became the Free State in December 1922) supported the Treaty, while the anti-treaty opposition saw it as a betrayal of the Irish Republic (which had been proclaimed during the Easter Rising). Many of those who fought on both sides in the conflict had been members of the IRA during the War of Independence.
The Civil War was won by the pro-treaty Free State forces, who benefited from substantial quantities of weapons provided by the British Government. The conflict may have claimed more lives than the War of Independence that preceded it, and left Irish society divided and embittered for generations. Today, two of the main political parties in the Republic of Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, are direct descendants of the opposing sides of the war.
These fascinating photos captured street scenes of Ireland during the Irish Civil War in 1922 and 1923.
Guests finally making their escape from the The Edinburgh Hotel at 56 Upper Sackville Street, now O’Connell Street, at the start of the Irish Civil War in 1922
Daily bread in the Irish Civil War, circa 1922
A group of Free State soldiers and civilians posing to record history in the making, July 1922
A lighter moment during the Irish Civil War, as Free State soldiers on board the S.S. Arvonia dance with each other to melodeon music, August 7, 1922
A prisoner under escort at the South Western Front during the Irish Civil War, July 22, 1922
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