Timeline of Local and National Events 1922

The Provisional Government agrees to pay the salaries of teachers who refuse to recognise the North’s Department of Education.

Five members of the McMahon family and one of their employees are murdered in their Belfast home. Rumours circulate of USC involvement in the killings.

The second Craig-Collins Pact is announced following a meeting in London, but it fails to end violence in the North.

The shooting of 2 USC officers in Belfast unleashes yet more violence which claims the lives of 10 civilians, 8 of whom are Catholics.

The Special Powers Act is approved by the Belfast Parliament.

The anti-Treaty IRA occupy the Four Courts in Dublin.

Republicans kill 14 Protestants over a 4-day period in what becomes known as the Bandon Valley killings.

William Twaddell, the Westminster MP for West Belfast, is shot dead in the city centre in part of a series of coordinated actions by the IRA.

Craig rejects any role for the Boundary Commission in a speech to the Belfast parliament: ‘What we have now, we hold’.

The elections for the third Dáil return 58 pro-Treaty and 36 anti-Treaty TDs.

The IRA carry out the killing of 6 Protestant civilians at Altnaveigh near Newry.

Sir Henry Wilson, a newly elected Unionist MP and security adviser to the Belfast government, is shot dead outside his London home.

The Irish Civil War begins when Provisional Government forces attack the Four Courts in Dublin.

The Local Government Bill completes its passage through the Belfast Parliament. PR is abolished in local government elections and constituency boundaries are redrawn.

Free State troops capture Cork city from the anti-Treaty IRA.

Arthur Griffith dies suddenly from a stroke.

The Provisional Government formally endorses a peace policy with ‘North-East Ulster’.

Michael Collins is killed by anti-Treaty forces in Co. Cork.

Michael Collins Graphic Novel – Creative Centenaries

W.T. Cosgrave becomes Chairman of the Provisional Government.

After delaying for 2 months the British government finally allows the Local Government Bill to receive the royal assent.

The Public Safety Bill gives wide powers to military courts in the South.

Andrew Bonar Law becomes Prime Minister.

The Provisional Government discontinues the policy of paying teachers’ salaries, encouraging Catholic-controlled schools to negotiate with the North’s Ministry of Education.

Four Dublin Republicans are executed as the Provisional Government adopts a more ruthless approach.

The Irish Free State Constitution comes into force.

The Belfast Parliament formally votes to be excluded from the jurisdiction of the Irish Free State. In his address Craig is adamant that his government will take nothing to do with the Boundary Commission.

In response to the killing of West Cork TD, Sean Hales, the Provisional Government executes 4 senior Republican prisoners, Rory O’Connor, Liam Mellows, Joseph McKelvey and Richard Barrett, one from each province.