Timeline of the Irish Civil War

This is a timeline of the Irish Civil War, which took place between June 1922 and May 1923. It followed the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921), and accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The conflict was waged between two opposing groups of Irish nationalists: the forces of the new Irish Free State, who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty under which the state was established, and the republican opposition, for whom the Treaty represented a betrayal of the Irish Republic.

The government of the Irish Free State (established as a provisional government in January 1922 and as a full government in December 1922) was ultimately victorious. The anti-Treaty forces called a ceasefire in April 1923 and ordered their men to "dump arms" in May 1923.

The war involved both conventional warfare (late June–August 1922) when the Free State forces took the major towns and cities, and then a longer period of guerrilla warfare (September 1922 – April 1923) as the anti-Treaty forces were gradually brought to a standstill.

Build up

January 1922

*7 January – The Anglo-Irish Treaty is passed in the Dáil (Parliament of the Irish Republic) by 64 votes to 57.
*14 January – A Provisional Government is set up to administer the handover from British rule to the new Irish Free State. The Cabinet is almost the same as that of the Irish Republic, with the exception of Éamon de Valera, Cathal Brugha and Austin Stack, who resign over the acceptance of the Treaty.

February 1922

*18 February – An Anti-Treaty IRA unit under Ernie O'Malley seizes an RIC barracks in Clonmel, taking 40 policemen prisoner and capturing 600 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
*Anti-Treaty IRA leader Séumas Robinson closes down '' The Nationalist'' newspaper (Clonmel) over its support for the Treaty. Rory O'Connor has the '' Freeman's Journal'' closed down for the same reason.

March 1922

*A stand-off occurs in Limerick between 700 pro-treaty IRA men under Michael Brennan and 800 Anti-Treaty IRA fighters under Ernie O'Malley over who will take over the military barracks, which were being abandoned by British troops. After negotiations between the mayor of Limerick, Stephen M. O'Mara, Anti-Treaty leader Liam Lynch and Pro-Treaty leader Richard Mulcahy, fighting is averted. On 12 March, it is decided that troops from outside Limerick will return to their own areas and that Limerick IRA men would divide the two military garrisons there between pro- and Anti-Treaty units. Limerick Corporation will oversee the maintenance of the RIC barracks.
*More confrontations result over the occupation of former British garrisons at Birr, Renmore and Templemore.
*17 March - IRA leaders meet in Dublin and set up a temporary council with Liam Lynch as chief of staff.
*26 March – 200 IRA delegates meet in an "Army Convention" and vote to repudiate the Treaty. They also reject the authority of the Dáil to accept the Treaty and set up their own 16-man "Army Executive".
''See also IRA and the Anglo-Irish Treaty''
*29 March – Anti-Treaty IRA units in Cork under Sean Hegarty raid the British tug ''Upnor'' at sea. They take between 400 and 1,500 rifles, 60 machine guns, 700 handguns and over 25,000 rounds of ammunition, which they then distribute to Anti-Treaty IRA units.
*The Provisional Government's newly formed National Army takes over the British barracks at Beggar's Bush in Dublin.

April 1922

*1 April – Belfast Police Constable George Turner shot and killed; in retaliation five men shot and killed and six children wounded of whom one died of wounds in Sinn Féin area of Belfast.
*10 April – Lieutenant Michael Sweeney, aged 21 years, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade of the Anti-Treaty IRA was killed by Free State troops at the junction of Grafton St and Nassau Street, Dublin while being transported under armed guard in a military lorry. Sweeney, who had previously been injured in his left leg by a landmine explosion stood up to hang onto the overhead bars in order to stretch the aforementioned leg. One of the escorts stepped forward and shot him in the back of the neck. Sweeney was taken to Jervis St Hospital where he died ten minutes after arrival. The seventeen year old soldier who shot him later testified that was trying to escape. An inquest ruled that death was accidental.
*14 April – Rory O'Connor, Mellows and others lead 200 Anti-Treatyites in taking over the Four Courts and several other public buildings around Dublin in a show of defiance calculated to provoke a response by the British troops still stationed in Dublin.
*20 April – There is 'intense firing' for two hours, starting at midnight, by Anti-Treaty fighters on the Pro-Treaty troops in Dublin stationed at the Provisional Government headquarters in Merrion Square, the Bank of Ireland on College Green, the telephone exchange and City Hall, Dublin. Three people are wounded. The Four Courts Anti-Treaty garrison denies knowledge of the attack.
*25 April – A National Army brigadier-general, George Adamson, is shot dead in suspicious circumstances in Athlone.
*27 April – The week after an abortive attempt by the anti-Treaty IRA to occupy the military barracks in Mullingar, two men – National Army adjutant Patrick Columb and anti-Treaty republican Joe Leavy – die in clashes in the town.
*30 April – In Westport, Mayo, four Pro-Treaty troops are arrested by Anti-Treaty Irregulars. They are taken to Castlebar and charged by a Republican Court of illegal recruitment. The men refuse to recognize the court. The men are threatened with execution if they continue to recruit for the Pro-Treaty forces.

May 1922

*2 May – Around 300 Irregulars take over the centre of Kilkenny, including the city hall, the Protestant cathedral and Kilkenny Castle. The Irregulars order the closure of the Ulster bank branch. The Provisional government hold the Military Barracks, the Jail and the Bank of Ireland. The Provision government sends 200 troops by train from Dublin to dislodge them. Fighting breaks out when the troops from Dublin arrive and there are up to 18 casualties. A truce is then brokered whereby both sides garrison different posts in the town.
*3 May – Pro- and Anti-Treaty leaders announce a "truce" in the Dáil to try to prevent civil war.
*4 May – Pro- and Anti-Treaty IRA forces clash in Donegal. There is firefight at Buncrana. Around 16 Irregulars enter the town in order to rob the Hibernian Bank. Free state regulars learn about the attack and confront the raiders. Two Irregulars are killed and two are wounded. There are five civilians hit in the crossfire. One of which was a nine-year-old girl who later died in hospital. A nineteen-year-old woman also died later in hospital. Reports of the fighting are relayed to Ballybofey, which is the local headquarters of the Free State forces. When reinforcements travel through Newtowncunningham, they are ambushed. Three Free Staters are killed and three are seriously wounded.
*5 May – Irregulars raid the Bank of Ireland branch in Westport, Mayo and take £2,673. They leave a document indicating that the Provisional Government had refused to finance them and that they were taking the money to cover expenses. There are similar robberies in Waterford, Clonmel, Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Ballina and Sligo. In total, around £100,000 is seized from the Bank of Ireland.
*At Newtowncunningham, Donegal, a Free State motor convoy is ambushed by Republicans, one Pro-treaty soldier is killed outright and four fatally wounded.
*20 May – Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera sign a Pact, in which the pro- and Anti-Treaty wings of Sinn Féin would jointly contest the upcoming first election of the new state.
*There is a firefight at Gormanston railway station, County Meath, between RIC men and Anti-Treaty fighters. One Anti-Treaty officer and one RIC man are killed.

June 1922

*Michael Collins repudiates the election pact with DeValera in Cork June 1922.
*16 June – A Free State soldier, William Murphy, is killed.
*16 June – 1922 Irish general election – The Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin party wins the election, despite the Collins/De Valera Pact stating the election was not to be held on the issue of the Treaty but to form a Coalition Government, with 239,193 votes to 133,864 for Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin. A further 247,226 people voted for other parties, all of whom supported the Treaty (except Unionist Party)
*18 June – At the Third Army Convention, a proposal by Tom Barry for war to be restarted with the British is narrowly defeated in the face of opposition by Liam Lynch. A hardline faction walks out and establishes a new GHQ command in the Four Courts. Joe McKelvey becomes IRA chief of staff.
*22 June – Assassination in London of Henry Hughes Wilson by IRA men in retaliation for attacks on Catholics in Northern Ireland. Research will eventually come to suggest that it was Pro-Treaty leader Michael Collins who ordered the killing, but at the time, Winston Churchill assumes that the Anti-Treaty Four Courts garrison is responsible and warns Collins that if he does not act, British troops will be used to re-take Dublin. The assassins are hanged by the British on 10 August.
*26 June – The Four Courts garrison kidnaps Free State General JJ "Ginger" O'Connell in retaliation for the arrest of Leo Henderson I/C Belfast Boycott.
*27 June – Collins gives a final ultimatum to the Four Courts garrison to surrender before they are attacked.
*28 June –
**Michael Collins borrows two British 18-pounder field guns to bombard the Four Courts at 4.15 am, marking the definitive start of the Civil War.
**Passenger trains to Galway, Westport, Ballina and Sligo are suspended.
**A number of buildings in Ballina, including the post office, are seized by Irregulars.

Hostilities

*28 June–5 July – Battle of Dublin
*Fighting breaks out in Drogheda between pro- and Anti-Treaty units. One man on either side and a woman civilian are killed in a gun battle in the town. Many other civilians including the town's mayor are wounded. The Republicans are left in control of the town. The Anti-Treaty fighters blow up the railway bridge to the south of Drogheda, isolating it from Dublin.
*An Anti-Treaty fighter is killed in fighting Tipperary town.
*29 June – British give Collins two more 18-pounders to increase the bombardment of the Four Courts. Free State troops storm the eastern buildings of the complex, losing 3 dead and 14 wounded.
* Oscar Traynor leads Anti-Treaty members of the IRA's 1st Dublin Brigade to occupy O'Connell Street in order to help the Four Courts garrison. His men also take up positions in York Street, South Circular Road, Capel Street, Parnell Square and Dolphin's Barn.
*Skirmish in Listowel County Kerry, Free State troops surrender their arms to Republicans.
*Free State troops surround republican fighters at Finner Camp, Donegal. After a two-hour gun battle, two anti-Treatyites are killed and 50 surrender. Elsewhere in Donegal, another 200 republicans are taken prisoner.
*30 June – Anti-Treaty commander in the Four Courts, Paddy O'Brien is wounded by shrapnel. Ernie O'Malley assumes command. In the morning there is a truce to remove the wounded. Shortly afterwards, a massive explosion destroys the western wing of the Four Courts and the Irish Public Records Office along with it. It is thought to have been caused when fires from the artillery bombardment set off munitions stored there, although Free State troops claim that the building was mined. 20 Free State soldiers are maimed in the blast. O'Malley surrenders the Four Courts when Oscar Traynor sends word that he cannot break through to help them. Members of the IRA Army Executive Liam Mellows, Rory O'Connor, Joe McKelvey and Dick Barret are among the prisoners, but O'Malley himself escapes.
*A Free State column under Commandant General Sweeney breaks up Anti-Treaty units in County Donegal. There are fire fights at Letterkenny, Buncrana and Bundoran. Casualties are reported, including at least one irregular killed and 200 taken prisoner.
*Anti-Treaty IRA fighters fire on National Army billets in Tralee, killing one soldier.

July 1922

*1 July –
**Free State troops take Republican outposts in the south of Dublin city and throw a cordon around their concentration on O'Connell street.Republican outposts at the Swan Hotel on Aungier Street and at Harcourt Road and Adelaide Road are cleared by National Army troops equipped with armoured cars and artillery. About 400 Anti-Treaty prisoners are taken in the operation.
**The National Army commandeer a train from Buncrana, Donegal and move northward. Clonmany is captured without incident. Troops then move onto Carndonagh, where Irregulars occupy the workhouse. A gun battle breaks out. After one hour, the National Army open fire with a machine gun and the Irregulars surrender.
*Anti-Treaty IRA in County Sligo ambush National Army troops at Carrigarat.
*2 July – In Dublin, the Republican garrison of thirty men in Moran's hotel on the corner of Gardiner street and Talbot street surrender after being shelled at close range by artillery.
*Fighting breaks out in Boyle, County Roscommon, when Republicans attack Free State held buildings. Casualties include National Army officer Michael Dockery. Fighting continues in Boyle for three more days.
*The Free State garrison in Ballyjamesduff barracks in County Cavan is attacked with rifle fire and grenades. There are no casualties. Barracks are also attacked at Ballyshannon and Cordonoagh and troops' arms are taken by anti-Treaty fighters.
*3 July – Free State soldiers take the side streets around O'Connell street in Dublin, isolating the Republican held buildings there. They also detonate a bomb under the YMCA building held by Republicans, leaving just Oscar Traynor and a little over 100 men holding out in a "Block" of buildings at the northeastern corner of O'Connell street. Traynor evacuates most of his men, leaving just 15 in the "block" under Cathal Brugha. Casualties so far in Dublin are reported as 49 killed and 178 wounded, including combatants, civilians and one British soldier. 400 Republicans are reported taken prisoner
*A National Army officer is shot dead in Nenagh, County Tipperary, causing the Free State troops to attack Republican held positions in the town. The Republicans retreat, burning the barracks they were holding.
*4 July – Frank Aiken, writes to Richard Mulcahy stating the Fourth Northern Division of the IRA would stay neutral, called for an end to the fighting and for the removal of the Oath of Allegiance (Ireland) from the Free State Constitution.
*In Dublin, Free State troops bring up a field gun to Henry street, within 100 metres of the remaining republican held positions to fire on them at point blank range. Incendiary bombs are also thrown into the "block", which is set ablaze.
*Ernie O'Malley and 250 Anti-Treaty fighters take Enniscorthy in County Wexford after some fighting. They take the Free State garrison there captive but release them on condition that they do not fight again against Republicans. Seán Moylan and 230 republican troops occupy New Ross.
*A large Free State force takes Drogheda, County Louth. The republicans are based in Millmount Fort, which overlooks the town and also hold the railway station. National Army troops bring up mortars and 18-pounder guns to shell them. After several hours of bombardment, the Anti-Treaty fighters surrender. There is also some fighting at the railway station in the town, which again ends in the surrender of the republicans.
*Free State troops from the Curragh attack the Republican post at Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare but are beaten off with 3 killed and 8 wounded.
*5 July – End of the fighting in Dublin The remainder of Oscar Traynor's Anti-Treaty force in O'Connell street either slips away or surrenders. Republican leader Cathal Brugha is killed outside the Hamman hotel. Anti-Treaty Dublin forces re-group in Blessington.
*The fighting in Dublin has cost sixty-five combatants killed, of whom 16 are government troops and 49 are Anti-Treaty IRA men, and 280 wounded of whom 122 are Free State soldiers and 158 are Republicans. The civilian casualties are thought to comprise over 250 killed and injured.
*Republicans abandon Boyle in Roscommon when Seán Mac Eoin arrives with Free State troops and an 18-pounder gun.
*A battle takes place in Abbeyleix, County Laois. Vol. Christopher McGlynn of the Free State army is killed by a sniper's bullet.
*A firefight takes place between 200 Free State troops and 30 Anti-Treaty fighters at Curraghtown, County Meath. One man on either side is killed before a priest arranges a truce and the republicans surrender. They are held in Trim and Dundalk gaols.
*6 July –
**A Free State expeditionary force is sent to County Wexford to re-take the towns there. It comprises 230 men under Colonel Commandant Keogh, with one field gun and four armoured vehicles.
**Two Anti-Treaty fighters are killed in a skirmish outside a pub in Urlingford.
*7 July –
**Free State troops move south from Dublin and break up the Anti-Treaty concentration at Blessington. They take 60 republican prisoners at Brittas and 13 more at Ballymore Eustace. Oscar Traynor and the main Anti-Treaty force from Dublin abandons Blessington. In exchanges of fire, one man on either side is killed and two Free State troops are wounded.
**National Army troops beat off an attack on Lifford Barracks, Donegal. Two National Army soldiers are wounded. Irregular casualties are unknown.
*Pro-Treaty forces take Galway, with minimal resistance. One Anti-Treaty IRA captain, Donnellan is killed, five of his men are wounded and 12 captured before Free State troops secure the area. The remaining republican fighters set fire to a number of public buildings before fleeing the city. The National Army takes two killed and more wounded in the operation.
*8 July – The Republicans in Wexford abandon Enniscorthy and New Ross.
*9 July – the Free State barracks in Bailieboro, Cavan is attacked and taken, the arms of its garrison are seized. An anti-Treaty prisoner, Edward Boylans is shot dead in Cavan barracks as he tries to escape.
*11 July – Fighting breaks out in Limerick between Pro- and Anti-Treaty factions. National Army troops open fire on the Republicans holding the Ordnance Barracks.
*Two Free State soldiers are killed and three wounded in an ambush at Drumkeen, County Donegal.
*12–13 July – Republicans are taken prisoner in fighting in Limerick city.
*Anti-Treaty forces capture 47 Free State troops in east County Limerick.
*Free State troops secure Maryborough after a four-hour gun battle. Three Anti-Treatyites are killed and two Free State soldiers wounded.
*13 July – Republicans take the Free State outpost, the Munster Tavern, in Limerick, but are driven back by armoured cars.
*Anti-Treaty IRA Mayo unit ambushes Pro-Treaty men at Rockwood, County Sligo, killing five, wounding four and capturing two armoured cars. They then occupy Collooney.
*One Free State soldier is killed and one fatally wounded in an ambush in Stranarlor, Donegal.
*A Free State column of 16 is ambushed, taken prisoner and disarmed in County Clare.
*14 July – Seán Mac Eoin and 400 Free State troops re-take Collooney, after an artillery bombardment and protracted fire-fight, taking 74 Republican prisoners. Only one man is killed, however, an Anti-Treaty IRA fighter.
*15 July – National Army troops assault Republican-held Strand Barracks and King John's Castle in Limerick, with armoured cars, grenades, machine gun and mortar fire, but fail to take them. Six Free State troops are killed and five wounded. One Republican is killed and five wounded.
*A skirmish takes place in Kiltimagh, County Mayo. Anti-Treaty fighters attempt to kidnap T. Ruane, chairman of the Swinford District Council, but a fire-fight breaks out in which Ruane, an Anti-Treaty officer and Free State officer are fatally wounded.
*National Army troops surround and take Cappard House, County Laois where the local Anti-Treaty forces were billeted. Five Republicans are reported killed.
*A Free State soldier is killed in an ambush at Gort, County Galway.
*Free State troops, equipped with an 18-pounder gun, shell the republican camp at Lough Inch, County Donegal. They surrender after two days, with 30 taken prisoner.
*16 July – Free State troops take Frank Aiken, who was previously neutral, along with 3–400 of his men from the Fourth Northern Division of the Irish Republican Army, prisoner in Dundalk. Two of Aiken's men are killed.
*17 July – Free State general Eoin O'Duffy arrives in Limerick with 1,500 National Army troops, four armoured cars and one 18-pounder field gun.
*Two Anti-Treaty fighters are killed in two separate ambushes in County Kildare.http://www.kildare-nationalist.ie/news/story/?trs=cwidojkfql
*In Galway, the funeral of a soldier killed on the 15th is fired on by Republicans, a battalion commandant, Rooney, is killed.
*18 July –
**Due to the occupation of Westport (Mayo) by Irregulars, supplies begin to run out. The flour and oatmeal supply is exhausted and stores are empty. There is considerable unemployment due to the closure of the port and local bacon factory. Post Office workers in Westport and Castlebar are refusing to go to work. As a consequence, Pensions are not being distributed.
**Free State general John T. Prout arrives in Waterford with 700 troops, one artillery piece and four armoured cars to take the city. His second in command is deposed East Waterford Brigade Commandant Paddy Paul. The Anti-Treaty IRA garrison consists of 200–300 men under George Lennon, Flying Column Leader. The combined Waterford Brigade is under the overall command of Pax Whelan. Prout sets up his gun on Mount Misery (Mercy) and bombards Republican held positions along the River Suir in the city, forcing them to eventually evacuate the military barracks and the post office. The barracks are burnt down by Irregulars before they abandoned the city. Four deaths occurred during the fighting, one of which was a girl of ten, who was shot in the stomach.
*19 July – An eight-man Free State foot patrol is ambushed at Ballinasloe, Galway; one soldier is killed.
*20 July –
**Fall of Limerick. Free State forces capture the Ordnance Barracks and Castle Barracks in Limerick. The Republicans burn the remaining two barracks they are holding and retreat southwards. Fighting in Limerick has cost the lives of six Free State soldiers and 12 civilians, with a further 87 wounded. The press reports about thirty Anti-Treaty IRA men killed but a recent study puts their fatalities at just five.
**Fall of Waterford. Captain Ned O'Brien leads 100 National Army troops in boats in an attack on the quays in Waterford, taking 12 prisoners. Free State troops then cross the river Suir into the city. General Prout brings their field gun down to the Suir Ferry bank to fire at close range into the Anti-Treaty-held Post Office, which then surrenders. The Republicans abandon Ballybricken Prison on Friday afternoon, 21 July escaping to Mt. Congreve in Kilmeadan, the Comeraghs and eventually, Dungarvan where many men of the Flying Column give up the struggle. Lennon resigns 1 August in a letter to First Division O/C Liam Deasy, citing disagreements over "tactics employed by our side". Two Free State soldiers have been killed in the fighting in Waterford and 19 wounded. At least one Anti-Treaty fighter is fatally wounded. Five civilians are also killed.
*Sir James Craig, prime minister of Northern Ireland, issues a statement endorsing Michael Collins' efforts to bring "peace and order to the South and West".
*Castlebar District Council, county Mayo issues a resolution condemning the Free State Provisional government for inaugurating the war in Ireland.
*23 July – Free State troops under General W.R.E. Murphy take Bruff and Kilmallock in County Limerick. See Battle of Kilmallock.
*IRA Irregulars abandon the former Black and Tans Barracks in Ballina. As they leave, they set fire to the building. The Irregulars also destroy all the telegraph equipment in the Post office and the telephone equipment in the railway station. After they leave Ballina, the Irregulars destroy the bridges at Pootoon and Shanaghy (both in Country Mayo). They also dug trenches into the roads surrounding Ballina in order to prevent vehicle traffic entering the town.
*24 July – Republican fighters under Liam Deasy re-take Bruff and take 76 Free State prisoners.
*Naval landing of 400 Free State troops in Westport, County Mayo. As the troops arrive on the quay, Irregulars abandon the R.I.C. barracks in the town.
*24 July –
**The police barracks in Newport, Mayo are burned by Irregulars, who had held the building since the beginning of the Truce.
**In Charlestown, Mayo Irregulars execute one of their own men for disobeying an order to destroy local property. As a result of the execution, Some Irregulars from Charlestown and Swinford (Mayo) mutiny and return home.
*Anti-Treaty IRA fighters ambush a prison train Killurin, County Wexford, freeing its prisoners; two Free State soldiers are killed and 7 wounded.
*Two civilians are shot dead in Dublin when Irregulars rob a public house.
*Two girl civilians are shot dead another man critically wounded by Northern Ireland forces along the border with the Free State, near Newry. They had failed to stop when challenged.
*Two Free State soldiers are killed in Galway, when the car they were driving crashes into a tree laid across the road.
*25 July –
**Republican fighters attack a lorry full of Free State troops at York Street, central Dublin with small arms and grenades. Six civilians are wounded and two men are arrested. In a separate incident,a Free State soldier is killed in an accidental shooting at Beggar's Bush barracks.
**National Army Troops advance from Claremorris to Castlebar, Mayo. By the evening, 150 troops occupy the town, equipped with armoured cars and artillery. The town is captured without a fight. However, the Courthouse, Barracks and Jail are all burned by Irregulars prior to the arrival of Free State Forces. The National Army followed up with raids on the houses of known Irregulars living in Castlebar. Five Irregulars were arrested. A contingent of Irregulars retreat to Ballinrobe.
*The Mayo towns of Ballyhaunis and Balla are captured without incident. The townspeople of Ballyhaunis disarm one of the Irregulars and turn out in their hundreds to greet the National Army troops entering the town.
*26 July – Free State troops, 350 men under Jerry Ryan, take Golden, County Tipperary.
*27 July –
**A contingent of the Dublin Brigade advance from Castlebar to Ballina. There is an exchange of fire before the Irregulars abandon the town. National Army troops occupy the workhouse, which is transformed into a makeshift barracks.
**The Providence Wollen Mills in Foxford (Mayo) are closed, rendering 300 men and women unemployed.
**Anti-Treaty IRA under Padraig Quinn attack Dundalk and dynamite the prison wall and in fifteen minutes the well-timed operation results in the freeing of Republican prisoners, including Frank Aiken. In an ambush at nearby Castletown Cross, two Free State soldiers are wounded, one fatally.
**The Marconi radio station in Westport, Mayo is burnt by Irregulars.
**Irregulars end their three-week occupation of Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon. Before they left, they burnt down the local barracks and destroyed the bridges surrounding the town. At one point, up to 200 Irregulars occupied the town, forcibly procuring supplies from the townspeople.
*Two Free State soldiers are killed in ambushes in Galway.
*Oscar Traynor, commander of the Anti-Treaty IRA's Dublin Brigade, is arrested by Free State troops in Dublin.
*Three National Army soldiers were killed in fighting near Kilmallock. Republican casualties were not reported.
*28 July –
**Ambush of National Army troops by Anti-Treaty IRA at Tonduff, Abbeyleix, on the main road to Maryborough, County Laois. A mine is exploded and fire is exchanged, Vol. Grace from Mountrath is killed while retrieving his rifle from the road. Brigadier Mick Gray is wounded. In the rounding up operation, 21 Republicans are taken prisoner but two Free State officers, Comdt. General Austin McCurtin and Comdt. Seán (Jack) Collison are killed on 4 August 1922.
**The National Army in Dublin issue a statement reporting that Tuam (Galway), Newport (Mayo) and Westport (Mayo) are now under the control of the Free State. Over one hundred prisoners held by Irregulars have been released. The message also reported that in Glenties (Donegal) an Irregular disguised as a priest had lured National Army troops into an ambush resulting in the deaths of two Free State volunteers.
*Two Free State soldiers are killed in an ambush on the road from Killorglin to Tralee in Kerry.
*29 July –
**About 400 Republicans attack Golden, Tipperary, but fail to take it and two of their men are killed. Their armoured car is knocked out by artillery and the National Army takes 26 prisoners.
**Comdt-General Lawlor and Col.-Comdt Reynolds arrive in Ballina (Mayo) and they are greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Numerous arrests of Irregulars are made throughout Ballina.
*30 July – Free State troops take Bruree, County Limerick. The Dublin Guard, supported by artillery, attacks the village for five hours before the Anti-Treaty IRA retreats. At least 13 Free State soldiers and nine Anti-Treaty fighters are killed in the action and more are wounded.
*Two Free State soldiers are killed in a skirmish in Mayo.
*30 July – Free State troops raid on a public house owned by Mrs Maria Dowling, Blackmill Street, Kilkenny. Samuel Oakes aged 17 was fatally wounded when shot by the military. Eleven young men were arrested at the scene.
*31 July – Anti-Treaty activist Harry Boland is shot by Free State troops as he is being arrested in Skerries, near Dublin. He dies on 2 August.
*Free State troops under Paddy O'Connor attack Republican held Tipperary town. Fighting continues for two days, in which four Free State troops are killed and three wounded. Forty-four Republican prisoners are taken.
*Free State general Seán Mac Eoin reports to Michael Collins, "In the Midlands Divisions all posts and positions of military value are in our hands."
*Two Free State soldier are killed in an ambush at Sugnagillow, County Donegal.
*Late July – Anti-Treaty IRA in Dublin ambushes and destroys an armoured train in Inchicore.
*Anti-Treaty IRA in Raheen, County Limerick ambushes Free State troops – two Colonels killed; 2nd Lt Michael Joe Costello and another officer turn ambush which results in capture of 30 of ambushers. Costello is promoted by Michael Collins to Colonel-Commandant at the age of 18.
*Two Free State troops are killed in an ambush at Sugnagillow, Donegal. Another two are killed near Newport, County Mayo.

August 1922

*1 August –
**Seven irregulars are arrested in Ballina by the National Army.
**In Mayo, the Free State Authorities establish a volunteer Civilian Guard. The initiative is later expanded to other counties.
**National Army troops advance through North Mayo via Lahardane. National Army troops are ambushed as they travel through Coolnabinna, at the foot of the Nephin Mountains. One National Army soldier is killed while two Irregulars are wounded. Part of the National army remains in Coolabinna and face a second attack. One of the irregulars is killed. The remaining National Army troops advance to Crossmolina, which is taken without a shot fired. The local population greet the arrival of National Army troops enthusiastically. After the National Army capture Crossmolina, a number of Irregulars are arrested. Thirty men from the town sign up for service in the National Army.
*2 August – Naval Landing of Free State troops in County Kerry. Paddy Daly and the Dublin Guard, as well as others, a total of about 800, land at Fenit. They fight their way to Tralee at a cost of 9 killed and 35 wounded. Two Republican fighters are killed in the fighting and more are wounded. The remainder retreat.
*Republican forces under Liam Deasy attack Bruree, County Limerick with three armoured cars, trying to re-take it from the Free State troops but their attack is beaten off.
*Republicans abandon Tipperary town and retreat to Clonmel; it is then occupied by National Army troops under Paddy O'Connor.
*2 August – Irregulars attack Swinford, Mayo. Initially, the Irregulars capture the town, taking 40 National Army Troops. In the evening, National Army troops counter-attack and recapture the town. As they approach the town, the National Army army is ambushed and commandant Scally from Athlone is killed. A second National Army Soldier is also killed. After the National Army employ a machine gun against the insurgents, five irregulars surrendered. All the surrendering irregulars were residents of Foxford, Mayo. The remaining irregulars flee back into the countryside. As they leave the town, the barracks and town hall are burned.
*Fighting around Carrick on Suir between 600 National Army troops under General Prout and 400 Republicans under Dan Breen.
*3 August –
The Free State forces under General Prout take Carrick on Suir with one man killed and three wounded. Breen's men retreat southwards.
**A party of irregulars attack a National Army position at St. Muredach's College, Ballina. During the ensuring gun battle, one National Army soldier is severely wounded. Irregulars also attack troops stationed at the Ballina Workhouse.
**A contingent of 70 National Army troops enter Ballinrobe, Mayo. The National Army recruit a further 200 volunteers.
*Around 250 pro-treaty IRA men from County Clare are embarked from Kilrush to Tarbert in fishing boats and take Ballylongford and Listowel.
*Pro-Treaty supporter under suspicion of being an informant is executed by Anti-Treaty Volunteers in Donoughmore, Co. Cork.
*4 August –
**Charlestown (Mayo) Public Hall is burnt down.
**Republican troops abandon Cashel, County Tipperary.
**The National Army capture Tubbecurry, Roscommon. Three Irregulars are captured.
**150 Free State troops under Paddy Daly take Castleisland, County Kerry. The Republicans abandon their positions after six shrapnel shells are fired at them from an 18-pounder field gun.
*Three Free State soldiers, including two commandants, Collison and McCurtain, are killed in a mine and gun attack on a troop lorry in county Tipperary.
*5 August – About 2,000 Free State troops under Eoin O'Duffy take Kilmallock, County Limerick. The Republicans retreat towards Charleville.

*Plot to Isolate Dublin Fails when Free State Intelligence officers discover from captured the Anti-Treaty officer Liam Clarke that Republicans have planned to destroy all the bridges leading into Dublin. In the ensuing manoeuvres
**31 Anti-Treaty Irregulars are captured at Glencullen Bridge.
**Troops capture 104 Anti-Treaty fighters in the act in north County Dublin, including their officer Pat Sweeney, crippling the remnants of the Anti-Treaty IRA in Dublin.
*A National Army soldier is killed by a sniper at Tralee, Kerry.
*6 August –
**National Army troops leave Killala (Mayo) by sea and capture Enniscrone (Sligo). Separately, a column of Troops leave Ballina (Mayo) and head to Enniscrone. The column is attacked and forced back to Ballina. They return with reinforcements, including an armoured car, and capture three Republicans. One is killed. After Enniscrone is captured, the National Army control the entire western coast from the River Moy down to Galway.
**Anti-Treaty IRA fighters ambush a Free State provisions column at Knockeen crossroads in Kerry. One National Army officer is killed and several privates are wounded.
*7 August –
**Heavy fighting takes place at Newcastle West, County Limerick. Free State troops, advancing from Rathkeale, take the town with armoured cars and infantry supported by artillery. During the 12-hour battle, a party of Republicans is caught in machine gun fire from one of the Free State armoured cars, taking many casualties. The Republican headquarters is shelled by field guns and they eventually retreat along the Cork road. Press reports say that 12 Anti-Treaty fighters are killed in the action. National Army casualties are reported as, 'less than those of the irregulars.'
**Joe Hudson, Glasthule, Dun Laoire is shot dead in his Garden at the same address by Free State Army officer.
*National Army troops assault and take Kildorrey, County Cork from its anti-Treaty garrison. Casualties are reported as one dead and 2 wounded on either side. 27 Republicans are taken prisoner.
*8 August – Free State seaborne landings take place in County Cork. Emmet Dalton and 800 troops, with two artillery pieces and armoured cars, land at Passage West. A further 200 men are put ashore at Youghal and 180 troops land at Glandore. Heavy fighting takes place at Rochestown in Cork, as 200 Anti-Treaty troops try to block the Free State advance on Cork City. Nine National Army and seven Republicans are killed before the Free State troops secure the area.
*9 August – There is fighting at Douglas County Cork. The Free State troops take 36 Republican prisoners.
*A National Army soldier is killed in ambush at Ferrycarrig, Wexford.
*General Prout's Free State column takes Redmondstown, County Kilkenny, with the aid of artillery.
*10 August – The Republicans abandon Cork city and burn the barracks they had been holding, including Charles Fort. The National Army takes the city unopposed.
*General Prout's Free State troops take Clonmel.
*11 August – Liam Lynch, the Anti-Treaty IRA's Chief of Staff, abandons Fermoy, the last major Republican held town. Lynch issues orders that Republican forces are to abandon the policy of holding towns, and orders them to form flying columns and pursue guerrilla warfare. End of the war's conventional phase.
*A Free State Naval landing takes place at Kenmare. Commandant Tom "Scarteen" O'Connor (formerly local IRA commander) lands unopposed with 200 pro-treaty men and occupies Rathmore and Millstreet. Kerry operations in August have cost the National Army a total of 11 killed and 114 wounded.
*12 August – Free State President Arthur Griffith dies of a stroke. He is replaced by W. T. Cosgrave.
*15 August – Free State troops take Clifden in County Galway without resistance. The Republicans abandon the town and burn the local radio transmitter station.
*16 August – 300 men of the Anti-Treaty IRA 4th Northern Division under Frank Aiken attack Dundalk. They use two mines to breach the walls of the barracks and temporarily take over the town. Six Free State soldiers and one Commandant, Byrne, are killed in the attack. Fifteen more are wounded. Two Republicans are accidentally killed by one of their own mines and thirty wounded. About 240 Republican prisoners are freed from the prison and 400 rifles are taken. However, Aiken does not try to hold the town and, while in possession of it, calls for a truce in a meeting in the town square.
*17 August – Free State troops under Dan Hogan re-occupy Dundalk unopposed. One civilian is killed in the operation.
*Two unarmed National Army medics are shot dead by a sniper at Inisfallen, Kerry.
*18 August –
**A lorry of Free State soldiers is ambushed between Clonmel and Cahir, County Tipperary. Three National Army troops are killed and seven wounded.
**Anti-Treaty fighters attack the Free State barracks in Monaghan town. They are driven off after a half-hour gun battle. One National Army lieutenant is killed and three Republicans are wounded. The Republicans also raid the post office in the town, and shoot dead a postman. They get away with £900.
*Anti-Treaty IRA men attack a Free State patrol on Longford Street, Dublin, one civilian is killed and three more wounded.
*19 August – There is a four-hour gun battle on the border near Dundalk between Free State soldiers and Anti-Treaty fighters. The Republicans eventually retreat across the border into Northern Ireland where they cannot be followed. Elsewhere, there are renewed attacks on Free State troops in Dublin and the railway bridge at Carrick on Shannon is blown up and destroyed by Republicans.
*In Kerry, a Free State column is ambushed near Listowell, one soldier is shot dead.
*In Tipperary, a National Army soldier is shot dead when visiting his family.
*20 August – Seven Free State troops are ambushed in a car heading from Liscarrol to Kanturk, Cork. One Free State officer is killed, two others wounded and the remainder surrendered with their arms.
*A lorry of Free State soldiers is ambushed at Blessington, Wicklow. One soldier is killed and five are wounded.
*21 August – One Free State soldier is killed in an ambush at Blessington, County Wicklow. Four more are wounded in an ambush near Enniscorthy, County Wexford. Free State troops occupy Bandon and Dunmanway, County Cork without resistance.
*22 August – Two Free State soldiers are killed and three wounded in an ambush at Redmondstown, County Kilkenny on the road between Clonmel and Kilkenny. Free State commandant Frank Thornton is also badly wounded in the incident. Three other Free State officers had been captured by the irregulars in the same spot the previous night.
*A Free State soldier is killed in an ambush of a convoy near Tralee.
*22 August – National Army Commander-in-Chief Michael Collins is killed in an ambush by Anti-Treaty Republicans at Béal na Bláth

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