How a Small Nation Took on an Empire

For centuries, Ireland had struggled under British rule. Rebellions came and went—the 1798 Rebellion, the Young Irelanders of 1848, the Fenian Uprising of 1867. Each one was crushed. But in 1916, the Easter Rising planted a seed. Though it failed, it set the stage for something greater.

By 1919, that seed had grown into a war.

The Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) was a brutal guerrilla conflict fought between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British forces. It would ultimately lead to the partition of Ireland, the creation of the Irish Free State, and a lasting impact on Irish and British history.

The Easter Rising of 1916 had been violently suppressed, but the executions of its leaders turned them into martyrs. A new political force, Sinn Féin, capitalized on public outrage. In the 1918 General Election, Sinn Féin won a landslide victory in Ireland. Instead of taking their seats in the British Parliament, they formed their own government: the First Dáil Éireann on January 21, 1919.

That same day, IRA volunteers ambushed two members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in Soloheadbeg, County Tipperary, marking the beginning of the war. Though unplanned as a formal declaration of war, it set Ireland on an irreversible path to conflict.

Key Figures:

Michael Collins: The mastermind behind IRA intelligence, assassinations, and guerrilla warfare tactics.

Éamon de Valera: The political leader of the Irish Republic and President of the Dáil.

Arthur Griffith: Founder of Sinn Féin, advocate of passive resistance, later key in the treaty negotiations.

Richard Mulcahy: Chief of Staff of the IRA, coordinating military operations.

David Lloyd George: The British Prime Minister, balancing war, diplomacy, and empire.

The IRA, under the leadership of Michael Collins, abandoned conventional battles and waged guerrilla warfare. Small, highly mobile units called "flying columns" ambushed British forces, assassinated intelligence agents, and targeted supply lines.

Collins also created "The Squad," an elite assassination unit. Their most infamous act was Bloody Sunday (November 21, 1920), when they executed 14 British intelligence officers and spies in Dublin. In retaliation, British forces opened fire on a crowd at Croke Park, killing 14 civilians.

The British initially relied on the RIC, but as the war intensified, they reinforced them with the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries—two groups of ex-soldiers notorious for their brutality. They burned towns, executed suspected IRA members, and terrorized civilians.

Key moments of British retaliation included:

The Sack of Balbriggan (September 1920): Black and Tans burned the town in revenge for an IRA attack.

The Burning of Cork (December 1920): Large sections of the city were torched after an IRA ambush.

Execution of IRA prisoners: 24 men were executed by firing squad between 1920 and 1921.

Despite the British crackdown, the IRA's tactics wore down morale and stretched British resources. Public opinion in Britain turned against the war, especially as reports of British atrocities surfaced.

By mid-1921, both sides were at a stalemate. The IRA was running low on weapons and manpower, while the British were losing international support. The pressure led to the Truce of July 11, 1921, halting hostilities.

Negotiations followed, leading to the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. It established the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire, but with a controversial Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown.

While the treaty ended the war, it split the Irish Republican movement. Michael Collins saw it as a "stepping stone" to full independence, but Éamon de Valera and others viewed it as a betrayal. The division led to the Irish Civil War (1922–1923), pitting pro-treaty forces against anti-treaty forces.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland remained under British control, sowing the seeds of future conflict—the Troubles (1969–1998).

The Irish War of Independence was one of the few successful wars of decolonization against the British Empire. It proved that a determined guerrilla force could defeat a global superpower.

Though the war ended with compromise, it set Ireland on the path to full sovereignty, achieved in 1949.

Ireland today… faces a new kind of struggle—one that threatens to erase what generations fought to preserve.

• Illegal migration is skyrocketing.

• Crime is rising in once-safe communities.

• The Irish birth rate is collapsing.

• Dublin is unrecognizable from just a decade ago.

And worst of all? The Irish people were never asked if they wanted this.

How Did Ireland Get Here?

For most of its history, Ireland was a land of emigration. Millions of Irish men and women were forced to leave due to poverty, famine, and economic hardship. The Irish diaspora spread across the world—to America, Britain, Australia—always longing for home.

Now, for the first time, Ireland is a destination for mass immigration—but the people arriving are not assimilating, and the government is refusing to acknowledge the growing crisis.

In recent years, tens of thousands of undocumented migrants have arrived in Ireland, many of them young men from outside of Europe. The Irish government claims they are "asylum seekers," yet:

• Many arrive without passports—then immediately claim asylum.

• A large percentage come from safe countries, where they face no real persecution.

• The government houses them in hotels, displacing local Irish families.

The numbers are staggering. In 2022 alone, over 13,000 asylum seekers arrived in Ireland—more than the previous five years combined.

The response? Irish citizens who protest this are labeled "far-right" and ignored.

For decades, Ireland was one of the safest countries in Europe. But now, violent crime is soaring, especially in cities like Dublin.

• Stabbings, assaults, and gang attacks have become common.

• Many perpetrators are repeat offenders who should have been deported.

• Women feel unsafe walking alone in areas where they never had to worry before.

In November 2023, Dublin erupted in riots after a migrant stabbed multiple people, including children, in broad daylight. Instead of addressing the immigration issue, the government cracked down on Irish protesters, calling them "extremists."

While mass migration accelerates, the Irish birth rate is at an all-time low.

• Irish women are having fewer children than ever before.

• Housing costs are skyrocketing, making it nearly impossible for young couples to start families.

• Government policies favor migrants over native Irish families.

A nation that does not produce its own future will be replaced. It’s that simple.

The Irish fought for centuries to preserve their identity against foreign domination. But today, the erasure of Irish culture is not coming from outside forces—it’s coming from within.

• The government prioritizes "diversity and inclusion" over Irish traditions.

• Gaelic is disappearing, while migrant languages are openly promoted.

• St. Patrick’s Day, once a celebration of Irish heritage, is increasingly rebranded as a generic "multicultural festival."

Ireland is being transformed—without a vote, without a debate, without the consent of the people.

Where Does This End?

A century ago, Irish patriots fought and died for their homeland. Today, the Irish government imports tens of thousands of foreigners, silences its own people, and watches as crime and cultural erosion spiral out of control.

But history teaches one lesson: the Irish do not go down without a fight.

The question is: Will the people wake up in time?

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