Shane McElhatton

Series Editor, Decade of Commemorations

'The Banner of the Patriots' was carried aloft by troops of the new National Army/Free state Army in 1922 (PHOTO CREDIT: Cashman Collection)

Exhibition honouring War of Independence dead opens

An exhibition centred on a unique banner honouring the dead of the War of Independence opens in Kilmainham Gaol Museum in Dublin today.

Dublin • 25 May 22

Spring 1922 - Bordering on disaster

By spring 1922, the crises in Northern Ireland and the Free State had moved beyond anyone's control.

Decade of Commemorations • 08 Apr 22

Policing the revolution: Order from chaos

Over the ruins of one police force the new Irish government had to build an alternative fast - or risk being overwhelmed by anarchy and civil war.

Decade of Commemorations • 18 Feb 22

The first contingent of the new Civic Guard marches into Dublin Castle on 17 August 1922, led by Commissioner Michael Staines, to take over from the departing British (Pic: RTÉ Photographic Archive)

Centenary of meeting to discuss new State police force

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the first meeting called to decide on the future of policing in the new Free State.

Ireland • 09 Feb 22

Michael Collins arrives at Earlsfort Terrace for the debate on the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in January 1922 (Pic: Getty Images)

Anglo-Irish Treaty ratified 100 years ago today

One hundred years ago today, the Dáil voted to ratify the Anglo-Irish Treaty. After a passionate, sometimes ill-tempered debate lasting three weeks, the vote in favour was extraordinarily close: 64 votes to 57.

Ireland • 07 Jan 22

Crowds at the Mansion House Dublin, during the Treaty debate (Courtesy: The National Library of Ireland)

Decade of Centenaries: The story so far

One hundred years ago this Christmas, the fate of the Anglo-Irish Treaty hung by a thread, the Dáil almost equally split.

2021 in Review • 22 Dec 21

Anglo-Irish Treaty signed 100 years ago today

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in London, which formally ended the War of Independence, setting the stage for British withdrawal from most of Ireland.

Ireland • 06 Dec 21

The Treaty debate - a close-run thing

Decade of Commemorations • 20 Dec 21

Signing the Irish Treaty 1921: Into the Lion's Den

A hundred years ago today, the Irish leaders set out for London to achieve the impossible: They had just a few weeks to achieve the freedom Ireland had sought for centuries.

Decade of Commemorations • 09 Oct 21

Double-edged truce: The summer of 1921

The war had been unprecedented. The peace would be, too.

Decade of Commemorations • 09 Jul 21