Ref NoPOL37
TitlePapers of the Western Division, IRA
Date1922-1925
Administrative HistoryThe Irish Civil War which lasted from 28th June 1922 to the I.R.A. ceasefire on the 24th May 1923 grew directly out of the Anglo-Irish War and the difficulties that arose from the treaty between the two nations. On one side were Irishmen who had fought to establish a 32 county independent Irish Republic free from any British influence. On the other were Irishmen who realised that the status of 'Free State' inside the British commonwealth was the only alternative to a prolonged and bitter struggle with the British which would result in further loss and defeat.
The I.R.A. were organised into Divisions spread across the country. A Division of standard army size was about 10-13,000 men divided into 3-4 Brigades each of about 3-4,000 men. Each Brigade was made up of between 3 and 5 Battalions ranging from 800-1,100 men broken into Companies of between 40 and 100 men. Most Divisions of the I.R.A. in Ireland at the time were much smaller than this. The 1st Western Division, one of the Divisions this collection concerns was comprised of 11 Brigades located over Counties Clare, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The total Divisional strength on 11th July 1921 was 12,711 all ranks and the strength of the Division on the 1st July 1922 was 6,403 all ranks, and these figures were drawn from the strengths of each of the Battalions and companies given in the records . The 2nd Western Division was made up of 7 Brigade covering an area in Counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. The strength of the Division on the 11th July 1921 was 7,704 all ranks and the strength of the Division on the 1st July 1922 was 3,442 all ranks . The 3rd Western Division had only 5 Brigades over Counties Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo and a strength on the 1st July 1922 of 6,802 all ranks .
This collection comprises a variety of documents, records, letters, orders and reports ranging from reports on engagements between I.R.A. and British and Free State forces from about 1920 to 1923, correspondence between the I.R.A. Chief of Staff and the O/C's of the Divisions concerned with orders to requests for funds for the Divisions from Headquarters (H.Q.). Most of the documents detail strength returns for the Divisions, number of weapons available, attempts at reorganisation, strength of the various Republican organisations in different parts of the West and North-West.
The Irish War of Independence was the result of simmering tensions in Ireland since the beginning of the 1900's. The rise in the number of armed groups in the country such as the Ulster Volunteers and the Irish Volunteers was testament to the growth of militarism and the willingness of people to use force to achieve their political aims. With the promise of Home Rule given but its implementation postponed due to World War One and the 1916 rising the political landscape of Ireland had changed dramatically and by 1919 open violence between the I.R.A. and British forces had erupted into what was to become the Anglo-Irish War or the Irish War of Independence.
The War was a brutal affair of assassinations, ambushes and reprisals and was fought to a stalemate with the I.R.A. in firm control of the countryside and the British in charge of the towns and cities . The I.R.A. fought as well as it could but it was said that 'at best the I.R.A. achieved a military stalemate which prevented the British from administering the North and West.'
From the very beginning the Treaty negotiations caused a split in the nationalist ranks mainly because of the delegates chosen to speak for Ireland. De Valera stayed in Ireland and sent Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith, Robert Barton, Gavan Duffy and Erskine Childers were sent to represent De Valera and keep check on Griffith and Collins . Collins wrote that he was doing what the others in the Dáil cabinet 'knew must be done but had not the moral courage to do themselves' .
The result was a treaty that divided the Irish Nationalist movement right down the middle with the treaty being passed on the 7th January 1923 by a very small margin of 64 votes in favour to 57 against . The tension that resulted between the Pro and Anti-treaty fractions came to a head with the seizure of the four courts by the Anti-treaty I.R.A. on 13th April 1922 . It is interesting to note that the areas which saw the most fighting during the War of Independence were the areas which were most against the Treaty . The result was a bitter conflict which lasted until the I.R.A. ceasefire.
The Anti-treaty I.R.A. were, for the most part, the more experienced and older men of the movement while the Free State army was made up of what was estimated to be 50% ex-British soldiers, 40% pre-truce I.R.A. and 10% civilian recruits . This is reflected in the language and tone of the collection most of the documents speak of reorganisation and the frequent and swift correspondence between H.Q. and the O/C's show that there are well established means of communication. The first section deals with the 1st Western Division of the I.R.A. from May 1922 until May 1925. The second section deals with the 2nd Western Division from June 1920 until July 1925 and the third and final section with the 3rd Western Division from August 1923 until July 1925.
For the most part the Treaty was accepted by the people of Ireland however support for it was stronger in the Eastern part of the country rather than the West which is why the strength returns of the above Divisions appear so large. Liam Mellows and Cathal Brugha had travelled through the West and South encouraging I.R.A. units to go Anti-treaty . Most of the divisions caused by the Treaty were made worse by personal differences amongst the Republican movement for instance the Feud between the Brennan and Barrett families in Clare caused Michael Brennan to become Pro-treaty and Frank Barrett to become Anti-treaty . Clare, because it became isolated after Limerick was taken by the Free State forces, played a very small part in the ensuing Civil War .
The collection offers a unique insight into the organisation and running of the Republican movement in the West and North-West and represents in microcosm the challenges faced by them during the years of the Civil War.
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