The Irish Civil War Through Fascinating Photos

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

A Red Cross ambulance passing the G.P.O. on Sackville Street (later renamed O'Connell Street) during the Irish Civil War, July 18, 1922

Armored car on Henry Street, Dublin, 1922

Armored Car, Passage West, Cork, August 1922

Armored train at Inchicore Works, Dublin, circa 1922

Children chatting to troops passing through to an attack on Irregulars Stronghold, Limerick, 1922

Coffin of Michael Collins being carried from the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, August 28, 1922

Farrell's barricade, Dublin, circa 1922

Injured soldier being cared for by the Red Cross on the South Western Front during the Irish Civil War, July 25, 1922

It's all hands on deck as the army with the help of dock workers lift an armored car from the deck of a ship in Cork harbor to use in the ongoing Irish Civil War in the rebellious Munster, 7th August 1922

Kevin O'Higgins, Minister of Home Affairs, standing close to a building, a victim of assassination after the Civil War, 1922

Major General Emmet Dalton and his new bride, Alice Shannon, on their wedding day. They were married in Cork, October 1922

Major General Ennis (with Thompson gun) and Comdt. McCreagh or McCrea, from the civil war's "Battle for Cork", 1922

Michael Collins addressing a mass meeting in Cork, described by photographer W.D. Hogan as a "Free State demonstration". Sean McKeon is also somewhere on the platform with Collins, March 13, 1922

National Army Recruiting Office, Pearse Street (formerly Great Brunswick Street), Dublin, circa 1922

National Army soldiers drive a car laden with wreaths through the streets of Dublin towards Glasnevin Cemetery for the burial of Michael Collins, Dublin, August 28, 1922

National Army soldiers searching through the remains of a fire at the Rotunda Rink, Parnell Square, which was the sorting office of the General Post Office, Dublin, November 5, 1922

National Army troops at the South Western Front during the Irish Civil War, Limerick, July 24, 1922

National Army troops lined up for a roll call during the Irish Civil War with local children casting an eye over the proceedings, Limerick, July 26, 1922

National Army troops on board a ship bound for a secret destination during the Irish Civil War, August 1922

National Army troops outside Cruise's Hotel in Limerick, July 1922

Oscar Traynor (under the X), Dublin, April 2, 1922

Patrolling the streets and surroundings at Passage West, 1922

Priest giving absolution to soldiers, Griffith Barracks, formerly Wellington Barracks on the South Circular Road, Dublin, circa 1922

Red Cross car passing through a village at the South Western Front during the Irish Civil War, July 25, 1922

Republican prisoners captured during the attack on Passage West being marched to the Cork Gaol for detention, 1922

Shop at Hearne's - Lunch at the Granville, Waterford, July 22, 1922

Soldiers and locals gathered in a rural village, Passage West in County Cork, August 1922

Soldiers pose with a mine in the Granville Hotel, Waterford. This photo was taken during the Irish Civil War, just two days after what was known as the Fall of Waterford, July 22, 1922

The Big Fella and The Fighting 2nd, 1922

The Four Courts in Dublin during the Battle of Dublin, 30 June 1922

The quays in Cork from a high vantage point a group of men in civilian attire surrounded by armed and uniformed soldiers while "admirers" look on, 1922

The title on this Hogan-Wilson image is "Michael Collins arrival being made the scene of a great ovation when the crowd become aware of his presence", Dublin, circa 1922

This is how Republicans left the typesetting machines at the Cork Examiner newspaper offices before Free State or National Army troops arrived in Cork city, August 10, 1922

This is Richard (Risteárd) Mulcahy and his wife Josephine (or Min) Ryan, who was a teacher and political activist, probably taken at Lissenfield House beside Portobello Barracks, September 15, 1922

This was the Irish Republican Party (Sinn Féin) photographed on Monday, 10 July 1922 presumably in Dublin

Thousands of people in O'Connell Street (Sackville Street) watch the funeral cortege of Michael Collins pass on its way to Glasnevin Cemetery, August 28, 1922

Two dredgers sunk in the shipping channel of Cork harbor to prevent troops from being landed there, circa 1922

Written on the back "Meeting...ruins...after C. War", circa 1923

"Street scene with advertising hoardings". Corner of Summerhill and Langrishe Place, Dublin, January 8, 1923

Boat Captured by Free State forces, June 1, 1923