Origins of the Civil War

Introduction from Chronology

Cosgrave and O’Higgins make statements to the Dáil on the events that led up to the decision to attack the Four Courts. 

On September 11th, O’Higgins tells the Dáil that “we had very good reason to believe that we anticipated by a couple of hours the creation of conditions under which this Parliament never would have met – conditions that would have brought back the British power – horse, foot, artillery and the Navy – in hostile relations to this country”.

On September 12th, Cosgrave tells the Dáil that the action taking by his government since June 28th was not for the “mere formula of the supremacy of parliament” but “a formula for the security of the people, of the security of their lives, and the value of their money in the country”.  Cosgrave told the Dáil that the kidnapping of JJ O’Connell was a last straw for the Provisional Government and it had to act or anarchy would ensue.

The motion “that the Dáil approves of the action that the Government has taken and is taking to assert and vindicate the authority of this House” is passed by 54 votes to 15.

Comment

Regan says that “Whatever O’Higgins alluded to, it seems highly unlikely that it was [J. J. ‘Ginger’] O’Connell” (Regan (2013), pg 120). Regan goes on to argue that the “conditions” which the pro-Treatyites were seeking to avoid was an attack on Northern Ireland by some (or all) of the anti-Treatyites which the anti-Treatyites would portray as an attempt to liberate Northern Ireland and could start a conflict with the British Army.

Regan further argues that “historians do not accord to the mounting border crisis its full significance or dominant role” (Regan (2013), pg 120) [as the issue which prompted the Provisional Government to act against the Four Courts garrison and, therefore, a major cause of the start of the Civil War].

 

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