Irish War of Independence

The Acts of Union in 1801 abolished the Irish parliament and established the United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland, leading to Irish nationalist sentiment and eventually the Irish War of Independence.

In 1916, the Irish Volunteers launched an insurrection in Dublin with the aim of establishing an Irish Republic and ending British rule. The rising was quickly suppressed by British forces, leading to the execution of its leaders and the arrest of many nationalists.

The Irish War of Independence commenced on January 21, 1919, with an assault by the Third Tipperary Brigade of Irish Volunteers on the Royal Irish Constabulary at Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary.

From April 15 to 27, 1919, the Limerick Soviet was established in protest against the British declaration of Limerick as a 'Special Military Area'. The Limerick Trades & Labour Council organized a general strike and boycott of British troops, leading to the formation of a strike committee to manage various aspects of daily life in the city.

The Black and Tans, a British paramilitary force, arrived in Ireland on March 25, 1920, to suppress the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.

On April 18, 1920, the IRA launched an attack on a group of RIC officers leaving a church in Kilmihil, County Clare. The skirmish resulted in the death of an RIC officer and an IRA volunteer, with several others wounded.

In an ambush on April 25, 1920, the IRA targeted and killed two RIC officers, Sgt Cornelius Crean and Constable Patrick McGoldrick, near Ballinspittle, County Cork. This incident added to the growing tensions in the region.

On April 27, 1920, the IRA successfully captured and destroyed the RIC barracks in Ballylanders, County Limerick, seizing arms and ammunition. This action led to reprisals by the Black and Tans in Limerick City.

On May 9, 1920, around 200 IRA volunteers led by Frank Aiken launched an attack on the RIC barracks in Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. After a fierce firefight, the IRA successfully breached the barracks, leading to its capture.

Percival Lea-Wilson, an RIC District Inspector in Gorey, was shot dead by the IRA on the orders of Michael Collins. This event was in retaliation for Lea-Wilson's order of Seán Mac Diarmada's execution, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising.

An ambush by the IRA in Raglan Street, Belfast, resulted in the killing of two policemen, leading to violent clashes between Catholics and Protestants in west Belfast. The conflict claimed the lives of 16 civilians and resulted in the destruction of 161 houses, mostly belonging to Catholics.

Following the expulsion of two RIC officers from Shanagolden, County Limerick by the IRA, a retaliatory RIC group burned buildings and killed a local civilian. This incident underscored the brutal reprisals and counter-reprisals occurring during the Irish War of Independence.

Sectarian clashes broke out in Belfast following the burning of Catholic homes in Lisburn, leading to British troops using a Hotchkiss machine gun to disperse rioters and resulting in the deaths of six Catholics and a Protestant.

The IRA ambushed an RIC cycle patrol at Ratra Crossroads, County Roscommon, resulting in the deaths of two RIC officers and IRA volunteer Thomas McDonagh, with the RIC later dragging McDonagh's body through the streets of Ballaghaderreen.

On September 20, 1920, a series of violent events unfolded in Ireland. The IRA ambushed a lorry of British soldiers in Dublin, resulting in casualties. In Balbriggan, RIC Head Constable Peter Burke and Sergeant Michael Burke were shot by IRA volunteers, leading to the infamous 'Sack of Balbriggan'. Additionally, an RIC patrol was ambushed outside Abbeyfeale, County Limerick.

District Inspector James Brady, who had expressed concerns about the escalating violence in Ireland in a letter, was killed in an IRA ambush on September 30, 1920, just a day before he was supposed to be relieved. His death highlighted the dangerous and volatile environment during the Irish War of Independence.

Terence MacSwiney, along with two other Cork IRA volunteers, died during a hunger strike in Brixton Prison, London. The hunger strike involved a total of ten individuals, known as the Cork Ten, who were arrested together. After MacSwiney's death, Arthur Griffith called off the hunger strike.

On 21 November 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, Michael Collins's squad targeted 20 military intelligence officers in Dublin, resulting in 14 deaths and 6 wounded. Later that day, a massacre occurred at Croke Park football ground where Auxiliaries fired into the crowd, killing 14 and wounding over 60.

The West Cork Brigade of the IRA, under Tom Barry, ambushed and killed 17 Auxiliaries at Kilmichael. Three IRA volunteers were also killed.

A lorry of Auxiliaries was ambushed by the IRA near Dillons Cross, resulting in casualties. British forces retaliated by killing two IRA volunteers, burning down the commercial center of Cork city, including City Hall and the Carnegie Library. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork issued an excommunication decree for those involved in ambushes or violence, which was ignored.

The British Government of Ireland Act 1920 received royal assent, planning to partition Ireland into Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, each with its own parliament.

An unsuccessful IRA ambush at Drumcondra led to the capture of several IRA members, with one volunteer dying from wounds sustained during the operation. Five captured individuals were later executed.

British troops in county Cork were tipped off about an impending IRA ambush by Mrs Mary Lindsay, a local Protestant. The ambush resulted in the capture of eight Volunteers, the death of two IRA volunteers, and the later execution of five IRA prisoners under martial law.

The Limerick IRA ambushed an RIC patrol at Dromkeen, County Limerick, resulting in the killing of 11 constables.

The IRA ambushed a Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) patrol in Warrenpoint, County Down, resulting in the death of a USC officer and wounding of two others.

A dozen IRA volunteers were killed at Clonmult, County Cork, after being surrounded in a house by British forces who alleged a false IRA surrender. This led to a series of shootings of alleged informers by the IRA.

Masked policemen attacked the homes of the Loughnane family and Laurence Hickey in Thurles, resulting in the death of William Loughnane. Denis Regan, a prominent IRA member, survived a separate attack. These incidents were believed to be reprisals for the IRA's execution of informants.

In retaliation for the IRA ambush at Dripsey, the IRA killed Mrs Lindsay and her chauffeur, burned down her home, and declared war on the British administration on 11 March 1921.

The IRA's East Mayo Brigade commander, Seán Corcoran, was killed by British troops near Ballyhaunis. In retaliation, an IRA volunteer named Michael Coen was captured, tortured, murdered, and mutilated.

Sinn Féin won 124 out of 128 seats in the parliament of Southern Ireland unopposed. IRA killed fifteen policemen over two days following the election.

Michael Kilroy and the IRA's West Mayo Flying Column ambushed a convoy of RIC and Black and Tans in Carrowkennedy, County Mayo, resulting in the death of seven policemen and the seizure of a large quantity of arms.

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland appointed James Craig as the inaugural Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

The war of independence in Ireland ended with a truce on 11 July 1921. Talks had resumed in the spring and resulted in the truce, as both sides faced challenges continuing the conflict. The truce marked a significant turning point in the conflict.

The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed on December 6, 1921, establishing the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. This treaty marked a significant political development in the aftermath of the Irish War of Independence.

The Anglo-Irish Treaty was passed in the British House of Commons (401 support, 58 oppose) and House of Lords (166 support, 47 oppose).

In Belfast, IRA volunteers killed two RIC men, while in New York, IRA volunteers from Cork shot and wounded a suspected informer. Additionally, the Anti-Treaty IRA under Rory O'Connor took over the Four Courts building in Dublin, leading to a new armed confrontation with British forces.

On June 7, 1922, British troops re-took Pettigo and Belleek with the help of artillery. Seven IRA volunteers were killed, six wounded, and four captured.

On June 22, 1922, British General Sir Henry Wilson was shot dead at his home in London by IRA volunteers Reginald Dunne and Joseph O'Sullivan. This was purportedly in reprisal for attacks against Catholics in Ulster.

The Free State Government agreed to British demands to end the Republican occupation of the Four Courts, but the Republicans refused to vacate the premises.

The era of civil strife, sectarian violence, and terrorism known as 'The Troubles' began in 1969 in Northern Ireland, leading to decades of conflict.

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought an end to much of the violence during 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland.