8. The War of Independence (1919-1921)
The Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) was a guerrilla conflict between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British forces, including the British Army, Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), and paramilitary units like the Black and Tans. The war intensified with significant events such as Bloody Sunday in 1920, where British forces killed 14 civilians in Dublin’s Croke Park. The conflict concluded with a truce in July 1921, leading to the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, which established the Irish Free State and partitioned Ireland. The violence and the legacy of the Black and Tans have left enduring scars, and the division of the island continues to influence Irish attitudes toward Britain (History Ireland – War of Independence).
