The Irish War Of Independence · IFI Archive Player

1m 25s

All Ireland Strike

May 1922, the top of O’Connell Street, and speakers are seen standing on a wagonette speaking defiantly to the crowd passing by. In April 1922, in protest to the IRA’s rejecting the vote of the Dáil, the unions of Ireland, which had declared general strikes against the British in 1918 and 1920, the speakers called a strike against ‘militarism’ and the threat of Civil War. It was generally understood that this was particularly targeted against the anti-Treatyites. During this time, the value of agricultural exports had fallen by 50% globally, and people were facing an international economic recession. The General strike of 1922 was for the most part encouraged by the pro-Treaty government, the press, the Catholic Church and society in general.

1m 04s

British Evacuate Ireland After Hundreds of Years of Occupation

This newsreel shows the first 60,000 British Troops to leave Ireland and go back to England in May 1922. As soldiers march past, crowds of people line up to cheer and wave. The troops are taken away in a military transporter, most with a smile on their face as they wave and shake hands with the fellow soldiers that stay behind. At the Curragh, troops are packing and removing equipment such as field kitchens onto the train. On August 17th, Dublin Castle was formally handed over to the National Army and the last of the British Army Troops left Ireland.

1m 36s

Evacuation of Ireland

This newsreel shows the first 60,000 British Troops to leave Ireland and go back to England in May 1922. As soldiers march past, crowds of people line up to cheer and wave. The troops are taken away in a military transporter, most with a smile on their face as they wave and shake hands with the fellow soldiers that stay behind. At the Curragh, troops are packing and removing equipment such as field kitchens onto the train. On August 17th, Dublin Castle was formally handed over to the National Army and the last of the British Army Troops left Ireland.

32s

The Curragh Camp

After the Anglo-Irish War the British Army handed over the Curragh Camp to the Irish Free State Army to a party of Irish troops commanded by Lieutenant General O’Connell, on Tuesday May 16th 1922. The Curragh Camp was the former Headquarters of the British Army in Ireland. In this newsreel General O’Connell can be seen at the top of the water tower hoisting the first tricolour to fly over the Curragh Camp. By tradition the British Army had cut down the flagpole requiring the Irish officers to physically hold the flagpole while the tricolour was raised.

1m 04s

Wexford Treaty Meeting

On April 8th 1922, Michael Collins visited Wexford Town where he made a speech at St. Peter’s Square to a large crowd. In this newsreel, we see some disruption caused by the anti-Treaty IRA. Train tracks were tampered with and in some cases lines were torn up. This was done to stop people from travelling to see Michael Collins and indicates the unrest in the country at the time as a result of the recent political developments. In his speech in Wexford Collins stated “No good can come of a division among ourselves, from civil war, from mutiny…”

1m 26s

Invasion of Limerick

In this newsreel from March 1922, Invading forces occupy houses, hotels and boathouse and march through the streets of Limerick armed, while official I.R.A. forces patrol in an armoured car. One man can be seen flying the Free State flag from his vehicle.

1m 25s

The Surrender of Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle was originally built at a defensive fortification during the Norman period. It evolved into a symbol and citadel of British rule for centuries, housing the mechanisms of the British government in Ireland. The Viceroy of Ireland, Lord FitzAlan-Howard the representative of the British crown, resided in the Castle and can be seen in this newsreel getting into a car and exiting the gateway to a jeering crowd. In the courtyard soldiers on parade hold their guns raised ready to fire salute (it is unclear if these are British troops). Michael Collins, the Chairman (Prime Minister) of the Provisional Government of Ireland created under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, accepted control of Dublin Castle. The handover symbolised the end of British rule in Ireland, even though the Irish Free State would remain part of the Commonwealth until 1949.

51s

Hunting in Full Swing in Irish Free State

This newsreel shows a large turn-out for the 1922 meet of the Ward Union Stag Hunt. The Ward Union Hunt takes its name from the hamlet and river called the Ward in the parish of Finglas in North Dublin and a roadside Hotel at the time called The Union. The hunting event occurs annually to this day and is now based in Dunshaughlin Co. Meath during hunting season (October to March).

1m 10s

The Outgoing President

In this newsreel the Ministry and members of the Republican Party who opposed the Treaty stand for the camera after contesting the policy of the Free State Party at the elections in 1922. On 14th January 1922 a meeting of the members elected to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland was held at the Mansion House, Dublin. At the meeting the Anglo-Irish Treaty was ratified by the Irish side and a Provisional Government was elected. Michael Collins was appointed its Chairman and the Provisional Government took up office two days later on January 16th 1922 when the British administration handed over Dublin Castle to Collins in person. The Treaty, which would replace the Republic as a dominion of the British Commonwealth, was signed on December 6th. De Valera was not happy with the signing of it as he had stipulated that regardless of the outcome the delegates should not be pressured into any agreements and should return to consult with the cabinet and him, their President. After the Treaty was narrowly ratified, de Valera and a large majority of Sinn Féin T.D.s left Dáil Éireann and Arthur Griffith was elected President.

1m 37s

Irish Peace Imperilled by Extremists

This Newsreel from December 8th 1921, highlights are a variety of shots starting with the before and after scenes at the Mansion House, Dublin, where Éamon de Valera made a statement that he cannot recommend acceptance of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. “But Dublin’s attitude is obvious” as crowds cheer on the arrival of Mr. Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins, who both signed the treaty two days prior at 10 Downing Street. Sir James Craig (First Prime Minister of Northern Ireland) can be seen arriving in a car at Ulster Parliament to “Attack the Treaty”. The newsreel ends with a procession of prisoners triumphantly posing and cheering following their release, in what appears to be in a family carriage.

44s

Irish Free State

This newsreel, which is predominately text based, declares that “after centuries of strife, Britain adds a contented New Dominion to the Crown”. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed between Irish and British negotiators in London at 10 Downing Street, and would determine the future of 20th century Ireland. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George threatened the Irish with “Immediate and terrible war” should they decide not to accept The Treaty. Michael Collins signed it as he believed it would be either a dominion and peace or a Republic and war. The Treaty was signed at 2.20am on December 6th 1921. Irish delegates seen at the end of the Newsreel, include Mr Arthur Griffith {Left} and R.C Barton {Center}, “agreed to an arrangement whereby all Ireland – except Ulster- becomes a Free State”.

1m 07s

Further Pictures of Irish Peace

This newsreel depicts the immediate aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Peace Treaty on December 6th 1921, showing the release of 1,700 internees from Ballykinlar internment camp. In the aftermath of Bloody Sunday, November 21st 1920, the British authorities arrested hundreds of republicans and opened several internment camps throughout Ireland. The first internment camp was this one at Ballykinlar, in Co. Down, while the volume of arrests was so great that additional camps had to be established at Gormanstown, Co. Dublin; Bere Island and Spike Island, Co. Cork; and at the Curragh, in Co. Kildare. Opened in December 1920 Ballykinlar Camp was situated on the Co. Down coast at the mouth of Dundrum Bay, about three miles from Dundrum village between Downpatrick and Newcastle. Over the following year 2,000 men were interned at Ballykinlar.Three days later after the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, on December 9th 1921, all Republican prisoners were released from Ballykinlar. Three special trains brought the men to Dublin, from where the internees made their own way to their home Counties. The trains were attacked by loyalist mobs with gunfire, bricks and stones at several locations. The Leinster Leader however on, December 17th 1921, reported on the release of the Ballykinlar and Curragh Camp internees, remarking that the reception in Athy was ‘a very warmhearted one’.

1m 35s

Forgive and Forget

The formation of the Irish Free State “Recalling the King’s noble plea at Belfast for peace, a plea which has at last borne fruit”. This newsreel shows the royal progress from the Belfast docks, up High Street towards City Hall while Black and Tans occupy an armoured vehicle on Thomas Street. King George V used the opening of the Northern Ireland Parliament in June 1921 as an opportunity to appeal for peace, ´to stretch out the hand of forbearance and conciliation, to forgive and forget´. The IRA agreed to a truce a fortnight later on July 11th 1921. This led to talks between the President of the Irish Republic Éamon de Valera and David Lloyd George, and later that year to formal negotiations between Dail Éireann representatives and the British government.

1m 03s

The Treaty

Filmed on December 1921, in this footage members of Dáil Éireann are seen exiting the doors of the University College Dublin at Earlsfort Terrace (now The National Concert Hall). Some of the deputies include, Count George Noble Plunkett, Kevin O’Higgins, George Gavin Duffy, Arthur Griffith, Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins. The Treaty, which would replace the Republic as a dominion of the British Commonwealth, was signed on December 6th. De Valera was not happy with the signing of it as he had stipulated that regardless of the outcome the delegates should not be pressured into any agreements and should return to consult with the cabinet and him, their President. After the Treaty was narrowly ratified, de Valera and a large majority of Sinn Féin T.D.s left Dáil Éireann and Arthur Griffith was elected President.

1m 24s

Historic Pictures

This newsreel shows pictures of the elected representatives of Southern Ireland who approved the Anglo -Irish Treaty alongside members of the provisional government. Figures include Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith in the front row. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in London on December 6th 1921 and Dáil Éireann voted to approve the treaty on January 7th 1922, following a lengthly debate. The vote was 64 in favour, 57 against, with the Ceann Comhairle (Dáil Éireann chairperson) and three others not voting. The Sinn Féin party split into opposing sides in the aftermath of the Treaty vote, which led to the Irish Civil War from June 1922 to May 1923.

19s

Sinn Féin Cabinet Divided

In this newsreel from December 1921, Éamon de Valera and Cathal Brugha are shown sitting in a car following their rejection of the Peace Treaty. De Valera had famously not attended the negotiations himself in London but rather chose to stay in Ireland (as he would be better able to control the extremists at home). The Irish delegates who chose to attend the negotiations were Arthur Griffith, Robert Barton and Michael Collins supported by Robert Erskine Childers as Secretary General. The Treaty, which would replace the Republic by a dominion of the British Commonwealth, was signed on December 6th. De Valera was not happy with the signing of it as he had stipulated that regardless of the outcome the delegates should not be pressured into any agreements and should return to consult with the cabinet and him, their President. After The Treaty was narrowly ratified, de Valera and a large majority of Sinn Féin T.D.s left Dáil Éireann and Arthur Griffith was elected President.

33s

Historic Unionist Conference at Liverpool

November 17th 1921, less than a month away from the signing of The Anglo-Irish Treaty, at a conference in Liverpool Unionists decide to support the Government, provided that Ulster’s position as part of Britain is protected. Liverpool had a substantial Irish population most of which were nationalist but a substantial proportion were unionist. The local M.P., Sir Laming Worthington Evans, was Unionist (the name for the Conservative Party from 1886 to 1922) and a member of the Coalition Lloyd George government.

21s

Will There Be Peace in Ireland?

In this newsreel Sir James Craig, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1921, is seen giving a speech. This event was during the lead up to the treaty negotiations which would culminate to the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December of the same year. Craig was highly critical of Lloyd George’s negotiations with Sinn Féin at this time, having previously refused to attend the peace conference which led to the signing of the Treaty. The same sequence seen here was used in another Topical Budget Newsreel, Ulster will not Yield

32s

Government’s Answer to de Valera

The first Cabinet meeting to be held beyond Downing Street or Chequers was held on September 7, 1921, in Inverness Town Hall as the future of British-Irish relations hung in the balance. Crowds gather outside for the Arrival of the Cabinet – Winston Churchill and Prime Minister David Lloyd George . Lloyd George was on holiday at Gairloch in Wester Ross when Éamon de Valera called the emergency meeting, announced an “irrevocable rejection” of the UK Government’s peace offer, implying that Sinn Féin would not accept anything other than full independence.

12s

Back from the USA

In this newsreel Mary MacSwiney (older sister to Republican Terence MacSwiney) and Harold Boland (Sinn Féin) pose for the camera upon their return from the USA. Mary MacSwiney, T.D., Nationalist and Educationalist, supported the Irish War of Independence in 1919–21. After the death of her brother Terence in October 1920 during the height of the war whilst on hunger strike, she was elected for Sinn Féin to the Cork Borough constituency in 1921. She gave evidence in Washington, D.C., before the American Commission on Conditions in Ireland and toured the U.S. for nine months. Starting the tour in Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 7, 1921, she crisscrossed the U. S. attracting large crowds and submitted detailed reports to Harry Boland and John O’Mara on a regular basis outlining successes and problems areas.

1m 05s

Ireland's Fate Decided in the Highlands

In this newsreel from 1921, Prime Minster David Lloyd George meets Irish Viceroy, General Macready and Sir Hamar Greenwood at Brahan Castle, in Easter Ross, Highlands Scotland. Lloyd George presided over the Government of Ireland Act 1920 which partitioned Ireland into Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland in May 1921 during the Anglo-Irish War. Lloyd George famously declared of the Irish Republican Army that “We have murder by the throat!” However, soon afterwards he began negotiations with IRA leaders to recognise their authority and to end a bloody conflict. This culminated in the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed in December 1921 with Irish leaders Under it, Southern Ireland, representing over a fifth of the United Kingdom’s territory, seceded in 1922 to form the Irish Free State.

54s

Ireland’s Holy Mount

This footage captures a pilgrimage to Ireland’s Holy Mount, Croagh Patrick from 1921 where thousands of people toil over bog and boulders to reach the summit and pray for peace. Croagh Patrick is a 764 metre-high mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Ireland. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin and forms the southern part of a U-shaped valley created by a glacier flowing into Clew Bay in the last Ice Age. It is climbed by pilgrims on Reek Sunday every year, which is the last Sunday in July.

46s

I Want Peace

In this newsreel Éamon de Valera arrives in London in July 1921 for discussions on a peace proposal for Ireland with Count George Noble Plunkett, Robert Barton and Arthur Griffith. The first stage in these negotiations was the despatch of an Irish delegation to London on July 12th . The party consisted of de Valera, Arthur Griffith, Austin Stack and Erskine Childers but these conversations were primarily between Lloyd George and de Valera.

52s

Is it the Dawn?

Following truce talks with Lord Middleton between July 4th and 8th 1921, having previously refused to do any interviews, Éamon de Valera released this statement to the world exclusively through this Topical Budget Newsreel. This intertitle only newsreel is unusual as we see his quote from an extract of the poem “Celts and Saxons” by poet Thomas Davis. ‘Ireland is fighting solely for the right to live her own life in her own way. She loves equally all her children and she needs them all’. ‘Oh! it were a gallant deed to show before mankind, How every race and every creed might be by love combined ? Might be combined, yet not forget the fountains whence they rose. As, filled by many a rivulet, the stately Shannon flows’’