The Sniper

The Irish Civil War was a one-year struggle that began in June 1922 and concluded in May 1923. It took place in the aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Treaty that ended the Irish War of Independence, also called the Anglo-Irish War, fought between Britain and Ireland between 1919-1921. The Anglo-Irish War was the culmination of a series of uprisings that fought for Irish home-rule. The uprisings took place during the 19th century, after Ireland formally became a part of Great Britain in 1901.

As a result of the Irish War of Independence, Ireland enjoyed a de facto independence: the majority (and southern portion) of Ireland’s geography became the “Irish Free State” within the British Empire; the British monarch remained head of state. This was not sufficient for much of Ireland’s southern and rural population. Their experience with famine, most notoriously the Irish Potato Famine in the mid-19th century, convinced them that the British monarchy had not taken responsibility for the Irish people. The aftermath of the War of Independence left the population embroiled in bitter conflict.

The Irish National Army, called “Free Staters,” favored the existing union with Britain. This faction was especially strong in cities such as Dublin, the