The Fight for Dublin, 1919-1921: Urban Warfare in the Irish Struggle for Independence

During the War of Irish Independence (1919-1921), a covert war of assassinations, arrests, torture, and murder occurred in Dublin between military intelligence agents of the IRA and British Intelligence. This history chronicles the events that led to the Bloody Sunday mass assassination of British intelligence officers by IRA squads in November 1920, based on witness statements and documents from both sides.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

In the bustling city of Dublin, a fierce and treacherous war unfolded between military intelligence agents during the War of Irish Independence (1919-1921). While the IRA flying columns engaged in fierce battles with the British Army and the Black and Tans in the rural landscapes, the capital city became the stage for a captivating clash of wits between IRA commander Michael Collins and British Intelligence chief Colonel Ormonde de l Epee Winter. This captivating history, meticulously researched using detailed witness statements of Irish participants, documents, and biographies from the British side, unveils the clandestine war of assassinations, arrests, torture, and murder that reached its dramatic climax on Bloody Sunday, November 1920.

As the conflict escalated, both sides resorted to covert tactics to gain an advantage. The IRA, known for their daring and audacious operations, employed a range of strategies, including assassinations, bombings, and armed resistance. On the other hand, British Intelligence relied on its sophisticated intelligence network, surveillance, and counterintelligence operations to track down and neutralize IRA threats.

One of the most significant events of this period was the assassination of British intelligence officers by IRA squads. On Sunday, November 24, 1920, a group of IRA men, disguised as British soldiers, attacked a British intelligence convoy in Dublin. The convoy was ambushed, and several officers were killed, including the head of British Intelligence in Ireland, Major General Richard Hayes.

The aftermath of Bloody Sunday was a watershed moment in the War of Irish Independence. It led to increased tensions between the British government and the Irish Republican Army, and it contributed to the eventual signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, which ended the war and established the Irish Free State.

However, the legacy of the War of Irish Independence continues to be a subject of debate and controversy. Some argue that the IRA's actions were necessary to achieve Irish independence, while others condemn their methods as violent and unethical. The conflict also had a lasting impact on the political landscape of Ireland, shaping the country's history and relationship with the United Kingdom for decades to come.

In conclusion, the War of Irish Independence was a complex and multifaceted conflict that involved intense military intelligence operations on both sides. The assassination of British intelligence officers by IRA squads on Bloody Sunday was a pivotal moment in the war, and it had a lasting impact on the political landscape of Ireland and the relationship between the two countries. While the war ultimately led to Irish independence, its legacy remains a subject of debate and controversy.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476684413