irish free state

ABOVE Recruited into the Royal Irish Constabulary as reinforcements, the heavy handed ‘Black and Tans’ became known for indiscipline.

Military History
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Born in blood: the Irish Free State

After years of unrest and escalating violence, the Irish Free State came into being on 6 December 1922. To mark its centenary, Patrick Mercer looks at the grisly events that led to its creation.