the irish war of independence 1919-1921: war and partition

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The Irish War of Independence 1919-1921: War and Partition By National Museum of Ireland In 2021, Ireland commemorates the 100th Anniversary of probably the most critical event in Irish history; a war with England which resulted in the partitioning of the island of Ireland into two states – the 26 county Irish Free State, and the 6 county Northern Ireland which remained under the governance of the UK. The creation of these states has continued to impact the lives of the people of Ireland for a century. The aftermath of the First World War saw national borders re-drawn and calls for independence from colonial powers grow around the world. In 1919 Irish nationalists resumed their struggle with the British forces, now widely seen as an army of occupation. The 1918 General Election saw a major victory for the Sinn Féin party over the more moderate nationalist Irish Parliament Party, and, refusing to take their seats in Westminster (London), they formed Dáil Éireann; a new independent Irish government in Dublin on 21st January 1919. It was immediately declared an illegal organisation by the British government. Coincidently, it was on this same day, 21 January, that the first shots of the War of Independence were fired at Soloheadbeg in Co. Tipperary, as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ambushed Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) police, to intercept a consignment of gelignite explosives. Acting as the military arm of the newly proclaimed Irish government, the IRA began a campaign of guerrilla warfare; conducting armed raids on British forces such as the mostly Irish RIC, British soldiers and later bodies such as the Auxiliary Division, who arrived in 1920 to reinforce the Irish police. The IRA and the British Forces soon became engaged in a cycle of ambushes, raids and retaliations, which often saw innocent civilians suffer loss of home and livelihood, or their lives. IRA Flying Column The British trained many of their opponents without realizing it. After the 1916 Rising, the British government conveniently imprisoned many of the rebels together at Frongoch Camp in Wales and afterwards in various English prisons. There they exchanged ideas and planned strategy for the future struggle. At the same time, other nationalists were serving in the British Army and learning the basics of military operations and tactics. When the War of Independence began, the Volunteers used their knowledge to train as the IRA. (Continued) September 2 General Meeting The September 2 General meeting will take place at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, at 7 pm. We will have a catered dinner. The new board will be installed, as well.

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Page 1: The Irish War of Independence 1919-1921: War and Partition

The Irish War of Independence 1919-1921: War and Partition By National Museum of Ireland

In 2021, Ireland commemorates the 100th Anniversary of probably the most critical event in Irish history; a war with England which resulted in the partitioning of the island of Ireland into two states – the 26 county Irish Free State, and the 6 county Northern Ireland which remained under the governance of the UK. The creation of these states has continued to impact the lives of the people of Ireland for a century.

The aftermath of the First World War saw national borders re-drawn and calls for independence from colonial powers grow around the world. In 1919 Irish nationalists resumed their struggle with the British forces, now widely seen as an army of occupation. The 1918 General Election saw a major victory for the Sinn Féin party over the more moderate nationalist Irish Parliament Party, and, refusing to take their seats in Westminster (London), they formed Dáil Éireann; a new independent Irish government in Dublin on 21st January 1919. It was immediately declared an illegal organisation by the British government.

Coincidently, it was on this same day, 21 January, that the first shots of the War of Independence were fired at Soloheadbeg in Co. Tipperary, as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ambushed Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) police, to intercept a consignment of gelignite explosives. Acting as the military arm of the newly proclaimed Irish government, the IRA began a campaign of guerrilla warfare; conducting armed raids on British forces such as

the mostly Irish RIC, British soldiers and later bodies such as the Auxiliary Division, who arrived in 1920 to reinforce the Irish police. The IRA and the British Forces soon became engaged in a cycle of ambushes, raids and retaliations, which often saw innocent civilians suffer loss of home and livelihood, or their lives.

IRA Flying Column The British trained many of their opponents without realizing it. After the 1916 Rising, the British government conveniently imprisoned many of the rebels together at Frongoch Camp in Wales and afterwards in various English prisons. There they exchanged ideas and planned strategy for the future struggle. At the same time, other nationalists were serving in the British Army and learning the basics of military operations and tactics. When the War of Independence began, the Volunteers used their knowledge to train as the IRA. (Continued)

September 2 General Meeting

The September 2 General meeting will take place at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, at 7 pm. We will have a catered dinner. The new board will be installed, as well.

Page 2: The Irish War of Independence 1919-1921: War and Partition

We will also have our raffle.

September Birthdays: 1 - Fran Dundon 15 – Derek Byrne 17 - John Avery 17 – Larry Gietl 19 - Glenn Nowak 19 - Liam Thomas Blaha 22 – Holly Heiden 24 - Sue Suit 27 - Eric Dushek 29 – Tim O’Brien 30 - Declan Stephen Blaha

Those requesting prayers for improved health: Noreen Barclay -will be attending another of the triplets' wedding Jean Bills -appreciates hearing from people Maggie Blaha - has hopes for improvement without identification of location Cate Harris Gail Neville - really hoping no more trips to the hospital Chuck McLaughlin - having a heart procedure performed hoping to be able to meet his new grandchildren in California Bob Towne - hoping for improvement to a leg Katy and Bob Voss Sharon Murphy has been undergoing treatment since March. Mary June Hanrahan has been having some health issues of late. Annie Blaha Lakatos defended her project on August 13 to receive her Doctorate as Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Maggie Blaha Sunshine Chair [email protected]

Past President’s Message A few final words; Congratulations to the new board members, Brian Witt as president, John Avery as vice-president and Kathy Avery as recording secretary. The club is in good hands as we begin to re-emerge and reenergize. Please continue to give them the support you have always given to the boards in the past.

And goodbye to departing members Mike Boyle, senior trustee, Mike Malloy, parliamentarian, and past president Joe Hughes.

I don’t have much more to say except to give out a few well deserved thank you’s. Thanks to those who have given me the kind words of support during the past unconventional year.

Thanks to the board who hung in there and continued the business of the Club. Thanks to those who continued their memberships.

Thanks to all who have volunteered during the past year especially during the just completed Irish Fest, who worked multiple shifts and worked in retail and cultural, worked early and stayed late (The Konkol’s, the Canons, Adam, Lisa, Pat Farley, Theresa and Gail, and Sondra and I apologize for omitting anyone). And a special thank you to an exceptional member, Mike Boyle, whose hard work and dedication through personal difficult times and disappointments, as the Parade chairperson and this year as the senior trustee, should receive special recognition.

Finally keep those members who are suffering and in ill health in your prayers. See you at the next meeting and bring a family member and a friend.

Josh Walton Past President

Page 3: The Irish War of Independence 1919-1921: War and Partition

War (continued from page one) Ireland was governed by the UK and administered from Dublin Castle by a Lord Lieutenant, or Viceroy, governing on behalf of the British King. The crown forces stationed in Ireland included various regiments of the British Army, and the Royal Irish Constabulary police force. The RIC, mostly Irishmen, were the focus of early IRA campaigns of harassment to force them to resign, thereby making Ireland ungovernable. By 1920 the RIC required reinforcements, and many British men, just home from war at the Front, signed up as ‘Black and Tans’, known as such for their improvised uniforms. Later, the British Administration recruited the Auxiliary Division as a paramilitary unit of the RIC. Despite being officially part of the police, Black and Tans and Auxiliaries were relatively free from civilian control, and were notorious for drunkenness and brutality, and were responsible for numerous atrocities on the civilian population. In a guerrilla war there are no large battles — instead there are many ambushes, raids, and minor skirmishes involving a few men on either side. The IRA conducted raids on barracks to take weapons and intimidate Irish born policemen.

IRA hand-made hand grenade

The Black and Tans and Auxiliaries, often took revenge by burning and looting whole towns, destroying civilians’ home and local businesses. These atrocities not only punished the wrong people, but also drove more civilians to support the IRA. Atrocities were carried out by both sides, and both suffered many casualties.

RIC and Royal Army Convoy During the War of Independence • 278 Irish-born RIC policemen were killed. • Hundreds of RIC barracks were burned. • In 1920, 41 civilians were killed for failing to halt in response to a military challenge. • Over 700 civilians were killed by both sides, including 100 shot as spies by the IRA from January to July 1921. The IRA’s ability to operate suffered from a lack of weapons and ammunition, despite their best efforts to import from abroad or take them from police barracks in raids. When ammunition was not available, empty cartridge cases would occasionally be refilled with gelignite, often unsuccessfully. The IRA’s Munitions Department directed projects to design and manufacture weapons and ammunition in secret factories across Ireland, and many volunteers used their academic studies or other experience in trades to do this. Weapons such as hand grenades and land mines were made to order in munitions factories across the country, and experimental weapons such as the IRA ‘Big Gun’ (a trench mortar) was made in the basement of a Dublin bicycle repair shop Ballykinlar Internment Camp was established in 1920, and was the first mass internment camp established by the British authorities in Ireland to put down the War of Independence. This converted military camp held up to 2,000 Irishmen who were suspected of IRA activity. The interned men drilled and learned military tactics, and also formed communities to play

Page 4: The Irish War of Independence 1919-1921: War and Partition

sport, music, and theatre. However, camp conditions were harsh – five men died due to maltreatment, and three internees were shot dead. Other such camps were established in Ireland, for example, Hare Park and Rath Camp in The Curragh. Mountjoy and Kilmainham jails were also filled with Republican prisoners. The North The conflict in the majority unionist northern counties was very different to that in the south where the IRA enjoyed widespread support. Most areas, except Belfast and Monaghan, had no IRA brigade structure. IRA attacks on police targets led to sectarian reprisals on Catholics, whom the IRA were unable to protect, leading to pogroms and the mass exodus of Catholics as refugees to southern counties. Violence in the northern counties increased after Partition in mid-1921, and the Northern IRA collapsed during the Civil War when left without support from the south Hunger Strikes The Hunger strike was a powerful weapon used by Republican prisoners throughout the revolutionary years, and state executions of republican prisoners sparked protests and labor strikes among the general population. This brought international attention and sympathy for the Irish cause. In July 1919 Michael Collins, the head of IRA Intelligence, set up a special unit called ‘the Squad’. Their job was to kill British intelligence agents, particularly those nicknamed G-Men. These were a small group of plain clothes policemen from G Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Police who operated a network of spies within the IRA. Unlike their Dublin Metropolitan Police colleagues, G Division was an armed unit. Despite their adoption of bullet-proof waistcoats, many of the G-Men and their informants were eliminated by the pistols of the Squad, who were irreverently nicknamed ‘the ‘Twelve Apostles’. Some G-Men and Black and Tans also acted as spies and double agents for the IRA, providing detailed information on G

Division’s members and operations. Civilian employees of Dublin Castle, such as clerks with access to confidential information, were also enlisted as spies for the IRA. Women Participants in the Irish Wars The actions of over 300 women during the War of Independence was critical to enable the fight to continue. Women smuggled weapons and ammunition into Ireland, relayed communications from area to area, and were active in the production of republican propaganda and the running of the Republican Courts. The nature of guerrilla warfare dictated that the men of the IRA were ‘on the run’ most of the time, moving from place to place to escape arrest. It was the women of Cumann na mBan who arranged and provided safe houses where men rested and received food and medical treatment for their wounds. Such activities, or even suspected involvement with the IRA, put women in a dangerous position. Many women were attacked and punished for their actions or associations. The shearing of women’s hair was a tactic used by both the IRA and the British Auxiliary forces to punish and deter women from interacting with enemy combatants, and for any other perceived crime. There are many recorded incidents of women across Ireland being terrorised by being taken from their homes at night and their hair violently cut, as well as other acts of violence and sexual assault. In July 1921, after eighteen months of guerilla war, a truce was reached between the British government and the Dail representatives. However, six of the counties in the North were ceded, leaving only the 26 southern counties. Ulster had been carved to a new shape. Michael Collins said the Treaty had signed his death sentence. And, in a few short months, a civil war broke out through the new Free State. More people were killed in the Civil War than in the preceding three years.

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Emerald Reflections Copy Deadline Content for Emerald Reflections is due on the 18th of the to appear in the October issue. E-mail submissions preferred, send to: Brian Witt, Editor [email protected] 2133 W Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee WI 53233

State Advisory Board Meeting

The Shamrock Club State Advisory Board met on Saturday August 21, 2021 for its quarterly meeting.

Members of the New Dublin chapter, (Judi and Mooch Barrington); La Crosse Chapter, (Linda Pfaff); Dane County chapter (Amanda Conway); and Milwaukee chapter, (John and Kathy Avery, Pat Fitzgibbons, Joseph Hughes, and Brian Witt) discussed a number of issues concerning the individual chapters and the Advisory Board.

Linda Pfaff will remain as president, and Judi Barrington as secretary.

The next meeting may again be held via Zoom in the Fall. Judi Barrington, Secretary

Photo by Patrick Fitzgibbons

Happy Labor Day Month! This month we are returning to the ICHC for a catered dinner. We will have a raffle. If anyone would like to donate any items for our raffles, please talk to me at a meeting. Deb Kreuser Sergeant-At-Arms

The Irish Fest High Cross

In 1990, the High Cross at Milwaukee Irish Fest debuted. It was based on the High Cross at Clonmacnoise

It was a gift from the newly revived Milwaukee chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin. Designed by Shamrock Club member and Irish Fest Cultural coordinator Kathy Radaj, it was expected to have a life of three years. Just a bit of the Irish history that the Shamrock Club helped bring to life.

Page 6: The Irish War of Independence 1919-1921: War and Partition

Miltown Gaels Find Success in New England Nationals Congratulations to the Miltown Gaels Gaelic Football team in the GAA Nationals in Boston in late August.

On August 23, the men’s traveling team won the USGAA Junior D Football Shield Competition. The Women’s team were runners up to their division champions.

All in all, a good showing in New England. And, just a reminder, the Gaels play in the Shamrock Club colors. http://www.miltowngaels.com

Halfway to St. Patrick Day Parade 2021 Canceled The Westown Association and Shamrock Club of Wisconsin have made the collective decision to forego the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Parade event originally announced for September 25, 2021. Several factors, including low unit registration and performer availability, influenced the decision.

Both groups want the very best possible parade and feel that directing resources 100% toward producing a truly special 2022 parade is the correct course of action.

We look forward to once again gathering with all of our friends, families, and neighbors for a festive celebration of Irish culture on March 12, 2022. Slainte!

Mike Boyle, Parade Director Stacie Callies, Westown Executive Director https://westown.org https://saintpatricksparade.org http://MKEPostparade.us https://shamrockclubwis.com

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Irish Fest 2021 Retail

We had a relatively good Milwaukee Irish Fest in our Retail area.

We had a new area to work in, but it worked out. A more complete report will be given, once all of the numbers are known. Thank you to all of the volunteers who gave their time.

Adam Bartlett Retail Chair

Milwaukee Hurling Club

The Shamrock Club Griffins are having a very good season this 2021.

Maybe it will be the Shamrock Club Griffins in the championship again this year on September 26th at 2:00.

In the meantime, come down Sundays to the pitch to see your Griffins play in hurling Club league play.

Ty Carroll – Co Captain Shamrock Club Griffins http://hurling.net

The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee WI 53233 https://shamrockclubwis.com http://MKEpostparade.us https://saintpatricksparade.org

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Fleming at the Irish Fest 2021 Mass

Membership News We picked up a few new members at Milwaukee Irish Fest.

And a reminder: The Shamrock Club membership dues are due each year by the end of June. Dues are $24 for a single, and $36 for a family, and $18 for dance families and sports team families.

Pay your dues at our secure site, https://shamrockclub-wis.square.site

Please send in your check for renewal to Shamrock Club, 2133 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53233. You can also give the gift of membership to a friend or family member.

If you have any questions, please contact Melanie Roepke at [email protected] Melanie Roepke Membership Chair

The Shamrock Club has sponsored the

Gaeltacht Tent at Irish Fest for 24 years.

Website Issues

We are currently having issues with our website provider which is having an impact on the quality of the Shamrock Club site. Please bear with us for a couple of more months.

More Irish Fest 2021 Fun