National Library of Ireland presents: From Turmoil to Truce

These images and the accompanying text are taken from the National Library of Ireland's exhibition From Turmoil to Truce at the National Photographic Archive. The exhibition was curated by Carol Maddock and Nikki Ralston.

Ordinary people, extraordinary times

Ireland is a dangerous place in 1920 and 1921. There is savagery on the streets, and people are not safe in their own homes.

Across the country, repressive British forces – regular soldiers, RIC, Black and Tans, Auxiliaries – are ranged against increasingly agile, aggressive IRA units and flying columns. Their deadly dance of attack and counter-attack brutalises the country.

On both entrenched sides of this War of Independence, and in between those sides, are ordinary people trying to live in extraordinary times. 

You will see some of those people here, in the work of W.D. Hogan, a jobbing photographer who captured images of turmoil and of truce all over Ireland.

Gnáthdhaoine, laethanta eisceachtúla

Ní áit shábháilte í Éire i 1920 agus 1921. Tá daoine i bhfiáin ar na sráideanna, agus ní bheifeá sábháilte i do theach féin fiú.

Ar fud na tíre tá fórsaí na Breataine – gnáthshaighdiúirí, Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann (CRÉ), na Dúchrónaigh, Póilíní Cúnta – ag iarraidh aonaid den IRA agus buíonta ar a dtugtar na colúin reatha a chur faoi chois, ach tá na haonaid sin ag éirí níos trodaí agus níos fearr i gcónaí ag éalú ó na húdaráis. Brúidíonn an damhsa seo d'ionsaí agus de fhrithionsaí an tír.

Tá dhá thaobh daingnithe sa chogadh seo agus ina lár, tá gnáthdhaoine ag iarraidh a gnáthshaol a chaitheamh, i rith laethanta eisceachtúla. 

Feicfidh tú cuid de na daoine sin anseo i saothar W.D. Hogan, grianghrafadóir oibre a ghabh pictiúir d'achrann agus de shos cogaidh ar fud na hÉireann.

British soldiers of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment search a train in Co. Kerry. 

Saighdiúirí Briotanacha den Loyal North Lancashire Regiment agus traein i gCo. Chiarraí á cuardach acu. HOGW 112 

Dublin Fire Brigade men remove the wounded after the IRA attack on the Custom House, Dublin, 25th of May 1921. The armed men are Auxiliaries.

Baill de Bhriogáid Dóiteáin Bhaile Átha Cliath ag iompar daoine gonta amach as Teach an Chustaim tar éis ionsaí IRA. Póilíní Cúnta is ea na fir armtha. HOGW 115

October 1920. A boy boards up a broken window after a reprisal attack by Crown forces in Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

Buachaill ag dúnadh fuinneog bhriste le clár tar éis gníomh díoltais ó fhórsaí na Coróineach sa Teampall Mór, Co. Thiobraid Árann. HOGW 90

"I" Company Auxiliaries, under Platoon Commander C.E. Vickers (beside driver), at Amiens Street station, now Connolly Station, Dublin, 1920.

Póilíní Cúnta de Chomplacht "I", faoin gCeannasaí Buíne C.E. Vickers (taobh leis an tiománaí), ag stáisiún Shráid Amiens, a dtugtar Stáisiún Uí Chonghaile air anois. HOGW 41

Armed Royal Irish Constabulary on Patrick Street, Cork City, 1921

Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann faoi airm ar Shráid Phádraig, Cathair Chorcaí. HOGW 52

Becoming brutalised/ Maistíní á ndéanamh de mhuintir na hÉireann

Violence, or the threat of violence, is everywhere during the War of Independence. And people see that turmoil reflected every day in their newspapers, in photographs like these from our Independent Newspapers collection.

Tá an foréigean, nó bagairt an fhoréigin, i réim ar fud na tíre le linn Chogadh na Saoirse. Agus feiceann an pobal an t-achrann sin á léiriú gach aon lá sna nuachtáin, i ngrianghraif cosúil leis na cinn seo ónár mbailiúchán Independent Newspapers

12th of April, 1920. Armoured car at Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, during republican hunger strike protests. Someone has cheekily chalked "Up Sinn Féin" on the side.

Carr armtha ag Príosún Mhuinseo, Baile Átha Cliath, le linn agóidí stailc ocrais phoblachtach. Scríobh boc dána éigin "Up Sinn Féin" ar an taobh le cailc. INDH 439/Independent Newspapers

13th of April, 1920. Barbed wire separates British soldiers and protestors supporting prisoners on hunger strike at Mountjoy Prison, Dublin.

13.04.1920 Feictear sreang dheilgneach idir saighdiúirí Briotanacha agus agóideoirí atá ag tacú le príosúnaigh atá ar stailc ocrais i bPríosún Mhuinseo, Baile Átha Cliath. INDH 441/Independent Newspapers

25th of May, 1921. Dead man on Beresford Place after the IRA attack on the Custom House, Dublin.

Fear marbh ar Phlás Beresford tar éis ionsaí an IRA ar Theach an Chustaim, Baile Átha Cliath. INDH 90/ Independent Newspapers

"Flames, firing, and explosions"

There is widespread destruction of Irish townscapes during the War of Independence. Two monumentally devastating events are the Burning of Cork in 1920, and the Burning of the Custom House, Dublin in 1921.

On 11 December 1920, Cork City IRA men ambush Auxiliaries at Dillon's Cross, killing 1 and injuring 11. This follows another recent IRA ambush at Kilmichael, Co. Cork, where 17 Auxiliaries were killed. Rage boils over into retaliation. Just hours after the Dillon's Cross attack, Auxiliaries bomb and burn Cork city centre.

On 25 May 1921, Dublin Brigade IRA men invade the Custom House, and set it on fire. The Burning of the Custom House is a military defeat for the IRA – 5 of their men are killed, and more than 80 are captured. 

But destroying such a high profile target in the heart of the capital is a propaganda victory.

Déantar an-damáiste d'fhoirgnimh agus do bhailte áirithe in Éirinn le linn Chogadh na Saoirse. Ar an dochar is measa tá Loscadh Chorcaí i 1920, agus Loscadh Theach an Chustaim, Baile Átha Cliath i 1921.

Ar an 11 Nollaig 1920, rinne fir IRA Chathair Chorcaí luíochán ar Phóilíní Cúnta ag Crois an Díolúnaigh. Maraíodh fear amháin agus gortaíodh aon duine dhéag. Lean sé sin luíochán eile a rinne an IRA ag Cill Mhichíl, Co. Chorcaí, inar maraíodh 17 Póilíní Cúnta. 

As an bhfearg tagann fonn díoltais. Cúpla uair an chloig tar éis ionsaí Chrois an Díolúnaigh, déanann na Póilíní Cúnta lár chathair Chorcaí a bhuamáil agus a dhó go talamh.

Ar an 25 Bealtaine 1921, réabann fir IRA Briogáid Baile Átha Cliath isteach i dTeach an Chustaim, agus cuireann trí thine é. Maidhm mhíleata don IRA is ea Loscadh Theach an Chustaim – maraítear cúigear fear IRA, agus gabhtar 80. 

Ach is bua bolscaireachta an phoiblíocht a fhaightear as targaid chomh suntasach sin i lár na príomhchathrach a scriosadh.

The rubble of Cash's department store, Patrick Street, Cork, 13th of December 1920. More than 2,000 people lose their jobs in the Burning of Cork. 

Smionagar de shiopa ilranna Cash's, Sráid Phádraig, Corcaigh. Chaill os cionn 2,000 duine a gcuid post nuair a loscadh Corcaigh. HOGW 187/W.D. Hogan

13th of December, 1920. Photographs like this are printed around the world. The British government suffers negative international coverage, although some London papers merely write of "mystery" fires in Cork.

Tá grianghraif den sórt seo le feiceáil i nuachtáin ar fud an domhain. Tarraingíonn rialtas na Breataine droch-chlú air féin dá bharr, cé gurb é an focal "mystery" a luann cuid de nuachtáin Londan leis na dóiteáin i gCorcaigh. HOGW 100/W.D. Hogan

A bird's-eye view of the devastation in the heart of Cork city centre, December 13th 1920. Five acres of property lie in ruins.

Radharc ón aer ar an léirscrios i gcroílár chathair Chorcaí. Tá cúig acra d'fhoirgnimh bánaithe. HOGW 188/ W.D. Hogan

All that remains of Sunner's Pharmaceutical and Dispensing Chemist, 31 Patrick Street, Cork, 13th of December 1920.

Níl fanta de Sunner's Pharmaceutical and Dispensing Chemist, 31 Sráid Phádraig, Corcaigh, ach an méid seo. HOGW 144/W.D. Hogan

25th of May 1921. Dublin's Custom House, home to the British-controlled Local Government Board, is set ablaze by the IRA. Dáil Éireann's propaganda department defends the Custom House attack, saying "the lives of four million people are a more sacred charge than any architectural masterpiece". 

Teach an Chustaim i mBaile Átha Cliath, áit a mbíodh an Bord Rialtais Áitiúil faoi riail na Breataine, á chur trí thine ag an IRA. Seasann roinn bolscaireachta Dháil Éireann leis an ionsaí ar Theach an Chustaim, á rá: "the lives of four million people are a more sacred charge than any architectural masterpiece". HOGW 47/W.D. Hogan

26th of May, 1921. The copper dome collapses, but the statue of Commerce survives. Newspapers wrongly call the statue Hope, making a good story in troubled times.

Titeann an cruinneachán copair, ach tá dealbh Commerce ina seasamh fós. Déanann na nuachtáin botún nuair a thugann siad Hope uirthi, ach is scéal maith é sna laethanta corracha seo. HOGW 73

Remnants of the copper dome inside Dublin's gutted Custom House. The fire is so intense that the walls are still cracking as they cool months later.

Iarsmaí den chruinneachán copair laistigh de Theach an Chustaim tar éis a loscadh. Tá an tine chomh te sin go scoilteann na ballaí go ceann i bhfad, fiú tar éis dóibh a bheith ag fuarú le cúpla mí. HOG167/W.D. Hogan

These are just some of the marked men in our Piaras Béaslaí Collection. Béaslaí was very close to Michael Collins, who built an IRA intelligence network and set up an assassination squad in 1919.

The men in these IRA intelligence photographs are Auxiliaries, RIC, Dublin Metropolitan Police, and British Army – even a couple of high-ranking Dublin Castle civil servants. 

In a guerrilla war where not even the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is safe from republican assassination attempts, these men are all identified as legitimate targets by the IRA.

Níl anseo ach cuid de na fir a raibh an bás i ndán dóibh inár mbailiúchán Phiaras Béaslaí, sa Leabharlann Náisiúnta. Bhí Béaslaí an-mhór le Mícheál Ó Coileáin, a thiomsaigh líonra faisnéise an IRA agus a bhunaigh scuad feallmharaithe i 1919.

Fir as na Póilíní Cúnta, CRÉ, Póilíní Chathair Átha Cliath, agus Arm na Breataine atá sna grianghraif faisnéise seo a bhí i seilbh an IRA – fiú líon beag státseirbhíseach ardchéimiúil as Caisleán Átha Cliath. 

I dtreallchogaíocht, inar féidir iarracht a dhéanamh fiú Ionadaí an Rí féin a fheallmharú, deimhníonn an tIRA gur tairgaidí dlisteanacha iad na fir seo.

Marked men at Dublin Castle, as identified by IRA intelligence, 1921. Photographer unknown

Fir ag Caisleán Átha Cliath a raibh an bás i ndán dóibh, a aithníodh i bhfaisnéis IRA.

Fake News/Bréagnuacht

Propaganda is a powerful weapon in any war, as it was in the War of Independence. These are some examples of 100-year-old 'fake news' from our National Library collections.

Uirlis an-chumhachtach is ea an bholscaireacht i gcogadh ar bith, mar ab amhlaidh i gCogadh na Saoirse. Seo roinnt samplaí de 'bréagnuacht' ó chéad bliain ó shin, ónár mbailiúcháin sa Leabharlann Náisiúnta.

On November 27th 1920, the Illustrated London News shows the bloody aftermath of the Battle of Tralee in Co. Kerry. Other British publications report on this event. Pathé cameramen film the battle to show in cinemas.

The 'Battle of Tralee' never happens. It is staged by Dublin Castle press officers on leafy Vico Road in Dublin.

Taispeántar san Illustrated London News an toradh fuilteach a bhí ar an Battle of Tralee i gCo. Chiarraí. Tuairiscítear an cath seo i bhfoilseacháin eile sa Bhreatain. Déanann fir cheamara ó Pathé an cath a thaifead agus a thaispeáint sna pictiúrlanna.

Ní raibh a leithéid de chath agus an 'Battle of Tralee'. Cur i gcéill ar fad a bhí ann, a d'eagraigh oifigigh preasa Chaisleán Átha Cliath, ar Bhóthar Vico, bóthar cluthar i gCo. Bhaile Átha Cliath.

Photographer unknown

The Irish Independent newspaper responds quickly, exposing the 'Battle of Tralee' as a British propaganda ploy on November 27th 1920.

Tugann an Irish Independent freagra láithreach bonn, agus nochtar don tír gur seift bholscaireachta de chuid údaráis na Breataine é an 'Battle of Tralee'.

Photographer unknown

On Bloody Sunday in Dublin, the IRA kills British intelligence and other officers. Crown forces retaliate by firing into a match crowd at Croke Park. That night, IRA men Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy, and civilian Conor Clune all die in Dublin Castle where they are being held for interrogation.

Highly choreographed reconstructions of the men's alleged escape attempt are publicised by the British. This is to counter the widely held suspicion in Ireland that McKee, Clancy, and Clune have been tortured and executed. Daily Graphic, 25.11.1920 Photographer unknown

Domhnach na Fola i mBaile Átha Cliath, maraíonn an tIRA oifigigh faisnéise agus oifigigh eile de chuid na Breataine. Baineann fórsaí na Breataine díoltas amach trí scaoileadh le slua a bhí ag féachaint ar chluiche i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. An oíche sin, cailltear Dick McKee agus Peadar Clancy as an IRA, agus an sibhialtach Conor Clune, i gCaisleán Átha Cliath, áit a raibh siad á gceistiú.

Tugtar athchruthú réamhphleanáilte d'éalú líomhnaithe na bhfear do na meáin. Déantar amhlaidh toisc go gcreideann mórchuid de mhuintir na hÉireann go ndearnadh McKee, Clancy agus Clune a chéasadh agus a chur chun báis.

The Irish Bulletin is the underground news-sheet of Dáil Éireann's propaganda department. Its aim is to reach foreign countries to "combat distorted and venomous British propaganda".

In March 1921, Crown forces seize typewriters and duplicators in a raid. Dublin Castle press office produces a series of bogus Bulletins. This genuine Irish Bulletin from April 7th 1921 explains how to spot the fake news forgeries. 

Is é an Irish Bulletin an nuachtbhileog rúnda a fhoilsíonn roinn bolscaireachta Dháil Éireann. Is é a aidhm "to combat distorted and venomous British propaganda" i dtíortha iasachta.

I Márta 1921, déanann fórsaí na Coróineach ruathar ar an oifig agus gabhann siad clóscríbhneoirí agus gléasanna cóipeála. Cuireann preasoifig Chaisleán Átha Cliath sraith Bulletins bréagacha amach. Mínítear san fhíorchóip seo den Irish Bulletin conas na bréageagráin a aithint.

Truce, if not quite peace / Sos cogaidh, i dtreo na síochána

In December 1920, the Government of Ireland Act partitions Ireland into two separate territories. Effectively from 3 May 1921, there is Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.

By June 1921, a Unionist-controlled Parliament of Northern Ireland is established for a six-county Ulster. With Ulster 'settled', the British government is freer to explore a truce with the self-declared Irish government in Dublin.

By summer 1921, the British have neither the stomach nor political support for the brutality that would be necessary to suppress Ireland. The IRA is not so numerous or well-armed as it appears. There have been tentative ceasefire approaches from both sides for some time. 

Following intense negotiations, a truce ending the War of Independence is agreed, and comes into effect at noon on Monday, 11 July 1921.

I Nollaig 1920, rinneadh dhá chríoch ar leith d'Éirinn faoin Acht um Rialú na hÉireann. Dá réir, tháinig ann do Thuaisceart Éireann agus do Dheisceart Éireann ar an 3 Bealtaine 1921.

Faoi Mheitheamh 1921, tá parlaimint faoi cheannas na nAontachtaithe ag Tuaisceart Éireann, a chuimsíonn sé chontae de Chúige Uladh. Tá ceist Uladh 'socraithe' agus mar sin tá deis ag Rialtas na Breataine sos cogaidh a bhaint amach leis an rialtas féinfhógartha i mBaile Átha Cliath.

Faoi shamhradh 1921, níl an goile ag an mBreatain, ná níl an tacaíocht pholaitiúil aici, le haghaidh an bhrúidiúlacht a bheadh ag teastáil le Éirinn a chur faoi chois. Níl an tIRA chomh líonmhar ná chomh dea-armtha agus a shílfeá. Tá an dá thaobh ag caint ar shos cogaidh le tamall. Tar éis idirbheartaíocht dhian, aontaítear sos cogaidh chun deireadh a chur le Cogadh na Saoirse, sos a thagann i bhfeidhm um nóin Dé Luain, an 11 Iúil 1921.

An enthusiastic Dublin crowd applauds General Nevil Macready, Commander of British Forces in Ireland, as he enters the peace conference 'truce talks' at the Mansion House, Dublin, July 8th, 1921.

Gártha molta ó shlua i mBaile Átha Cliath don Ghinearál Nevil Macready, Ceannasaí Fhórsaí na Breataine in Éirinn, agus é ar a bhealach isteach chuig 'truce talks' chomhdháil na síochána i dTeach an Ard-Mhéara, Baile Átha Cliath. HOGW 57/W.D. Hogan

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At left, President Éamon de Valera and Arthur Griffith leaving Dublin on board the Curraghmore mailboat, the day after the truce comes into effect, July 12th 1921. They are on their way to negotiate with British Prime Minister David Lloyd George in London. 

Ar chlé, feictear an tUachtarán Éamon de Valera agus Arthur Griffith ag imeacht as Baile Átha Cliath ar an mbád poist, an Curraghmore, an lá tar éis don sos cogaidh teacht i bhfeidhm. Tá siad ag déanamh ar Londain, le dul i mbun caibidlíochta le David Lloyd George, Príomh-aire na Breataine. MS 49,530/27/3/ W.D. Hogan

The Irish peace delegation at the Grosvenor Hotel, London, July 14th 1921. (Men standing from left) Count Plunkett, Erskine Childers, Laurence O'Neill, Dr Farnam, Robert Barton. (Women from left) Lily O'Brennan, Mrs Farnam, Kathleen O'Connell. (Sitting from left) Éamon de Valera, Arthur Griffith. 

Toscaireacht síochána na hÉireann ag an Grosvenor Hotel, Londain. (Fir ina seasamh, ó chlé) ) Count Plunkett, Erskine Childers, Laurence O'Neill, Dr Farnam, Robert Barton. (Mná ina seasamh, ó chlé) Lily O'Brennan, Mrs Farnam, Kathleen O'Connell. (Ina suí, ó chlé) Éamon de Valera, Arthur Griffith. NPA RPH10

Republican prayer vigil at Downing Street, London, July 14th 1921, as Éamon de Valera and David Lloyd George meet to discuss paths to peace in Ireland. 

Bigil paidreoireachta poblachtach ag Sráid Downing, Londain, agus Éamon de Valera agus David Lloyd George ag plé slite leis an tsíocháin a chur i réim in Éirinn. HOG1/W.D. Hogan

Irish political representatives wait at Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire), Dublin, on July 22nd 1921, to meet the Irish peace delegates returning from London. (from left) H. O'Friel, Dublin County Council; Máire O'Donovan, Deputy Mayor of Limerick; Vincent White, Waterford TD; Kate O'Callaghan, Limerick TD; Donal O'Callaghan, Cork TD; Liam de Róiste, Cork TD. 

Ionadaithe polaitiúla Éireannacha ag feitheamh ag Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire anois), Baile Átha Cliath, ar na toscairí síochána Éireannacha ag filleadh ó Londain. (ó chlé) H. O'Friel, Comhairle Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath; Máire O'Donovan, Leas-Mhéara Luimnigh; Vincent White, TD Phort Láirge; Kate O'Callaghan, TD Luimnigh; Donal O'Callaghan, TD Chorcaí; Liam de Róiste, TD Chorcaí. HOGW 75/W.D. Hogan

Éamon de Valera surrounded by people waiting to greet the returning Irish peace delegates at Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire), Dublin, July 22nd 1921. Months of difficult negotiation lie ahead before the Anglo-Irish Treaty will be signed in December 1921. And that Treaty, in its turn, will convulse Ireland in civil war. 

Éamon de Valera i lár slua mór daoine atá ag feitheamh le fáilte a chur roimh na toscairí síochána atá ag filleadh ar Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire anois), Baile Átha Cliath. Tá roinnt míonna d'idirbheartaíocht dhian rompu sula síneofar an Conradh Angla-Éireannach i Nollaig 1921. Agus is é an toradh a bheas ar an gConradh sin ná Éire a shuaitheadh i gcogadh cathartha. HOGW 58/W.D. Hogan

Text and images from the National Library of Ireland's exhibition From Turmoil to Truce at the National Photographic Archive.