Belfast Brigade, Irish Republican Army
Encyclopedia
The Belfast Brigade of the Irish Republican Army
(IRA) was formed in March 1921 during the Irish War of Independence
, when the IRA was re-organised by its leadership in Dublin into Divisions and Joe McKelvey
was appointed commander of the Third Northern Division, responsible for Belfast and the surrounding area. There were three battalions within the Brigade, the 1st in West Belfast, the 2nd in North Belfast and the Third in East Belfast. Most of the Brigades attacks on Crown forces were carried out by an Active Service Unit within the 1st battalion, led by Roger McCorley
.
The Brigade was strengthened during the period between the end of hostilities between the IRA and British forces in July 1921 and the outbreak of the Irish Civil War
in June 1922. During this time, Michael Collins
, head of the new Irish Free State
sent arms and money to the IRA in Belfast in an effort to de-stabilise the newly created Northern Ireland
. By May 1922, the IRA in Belfast possessed over 600 rifles. They carried out many attacks on British and Northern Ireland force during this period. In addition, they were often faced with the task of trying to defend Catholic areas of Belfast from attack by loyalist and state forces. As well as defence, though, the Brigade was also guilty of sectarian attacks, including assassinations of Protestants and the bombing of trams taking Protestant workers to work-places that had expelled Catholics.
In May 1922, the IRA in Belfast assassinated Unionist MP William Twaddell
. In response, the next day, the Unionist government interned over 200 Republicans in Belfast and 350 throughout Northern Ireland. Over 750 IRA men were interned by 1923. This was a damaging blow to the Belfast Brigade, but more damaging still was the outbreak of the Irish Civil War on June 28. This meant that the IRA in the south of Ireland was now split into warring factions. In addition, the aid which the Free State government had given to the northern IRA was cut off after the death of Michael Collins in August 1922. On top of this, Joe McKelvey, the leader of the IRA in Belfast, left the city to side with te Anti-Treaty IRA in the civil war. He was captured and subsequently executed by the Free State. Most of the other IRA leaders in Belfast supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty
, as they had been persuaded that it would ultimately result in a united, independent Ireland. In addition over 1000 IRA men in Belfast had to flee Northern Ireland to escapethe repression there and around 500 of them were recruited into the pro-treaty National Army
during the civil war.
As a result of these factors, the IRA in Belfast was all but destroyed in this period and was unable to mount a threat to British rule in Northern Ireland for many years. The organisation carried out some shootings in Belfast in the 1940s, for which a number of their members were hanged. In the IRA Border Campaign
of the 1950s, there were no actions in Belfast.
It took the formation of the Provisional IRA and its Belfast Brigade
in 1969 before republicans were again in a position to carry out attacks in Northern Ireland's capital city.
The IRA of the 1920s in Belfast is the subject of the song Belfast Brigade
.
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA) was formed in March 1921 during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, when the IRA was re-organised by its leadership in Dublin into Divisions and Joe McKelvey
Joe McKelvey
Joe McKelvey was an Irish Republican Army officer who was executed during the Irish Civil War. He participated in the anti-Treaty IRA's repudiation of the authority of the Dáil in March 1922 and was elected to the IRA Army Executive...
was appointed commander of the Third Northern Division, responsible for Belfast and the surrounding area. There were three battalions within the Brigade, the 1st in West Belfast, the 2nd in North Belfast and the Third in East Belfast. Most of the Brigades attacks on Crown forces were carried out by an Active Service Unit within the 1st battalion, led by Roger McCorley
Roger McCorley
Roger McCorley was an Irish republican activist.McCorley was born in Belfast. His family had a very strong republican tradition and he was the great-grandson of United Irishmen leader Roddy McCorley, who was executed for his part in the 1798 rebellion....
.
The Brigade was strengthened during the period between the end of hostilities between the IRA and British forces in July 1921 and the outbreak of the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
in June 1922. During this time, Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
, head of the new Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
sent arms and money to the IRA in Belfast in an effort to de-stabilise the newly created Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. By May 1922, the IRA in Belfast possessed over 600 rifles. They carried out many attacks on British and Northern Ireland force during this period. In addition, they were often faced with the task of trying to defend Catholic areas of Belfast from attack by loyalist and state forces. As well as defence, though, the Brigade was also guilty of sectarian attacks, including assassinations of Protestants and the bombing of trams taking Protestant workers to work-places that had expelled Catholics.
In May 1922, the IRA in Belfast assassinated Unionist MP William Twaddell
William Twaddell
William John Twaddell was a Unionist politician from Belfast.Twaddell was a draper from Belfast who was educated at a Belfast primary school....
. In response, the next day, the Unionist government interned over 200 Republicans in Belfast and 350 throughout Northern Ireland. Over 750 IRA men were interned by 1923. This was a damaging blow to the Belfast Brigade, but more damaging still was the outbreak of the Irish Civil War on June 28. This meant that the IRA in the south of Ireland was now split into warring factions. In addition, the aid which the Free State government had given to the northern IRA was cut off after the death of Michael Collins in August 1922. On top of this, Joe McKelvey, the leader of the IRA in Belfast, left the city to side with te Anti-Treaty IRA in the civil war. He was captured and subsequently executed by the Free State. Most of the other IRA leaders in Belfast supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
, as they had been persuaded that it would ultimately result in a united, independent Ireland. In addition over 1000 IRA men in Belfast had to flee Northern Ireland to escapethe repression there and around 500 of them were recruited into the pro-treaty National Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
during the civil war.
As a result of these factors, the IRA in Belfast was all but destroyed in this period and was unable to mount a threat to British rule in Northern Ireland for many years. The organisation carried out some shootings in Belfast in the 1940s, for which a number of their members were hanged. In the IRA Border Campaign
Border Campaign (IRA)
The Border Campaign was a campaign of guerrilla warfare carried out by the Irish Republican Army against targets in Northern Ireland, with the aim of overthrowing British rule there and creating a united Ireland.Popularly referred to as the Border Campaign, it was also referred to as the...
of the 1950s, there were no actions in Belfast.
It took the formation of the Provisional IRA and its Belfast Brigade
Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade
The Belfast Brigade of the Provisional IRA was the largest of the organisation's command areas, based in the city of Belfast. Founded in 1969, along with the formation of the Provisional IRA, it was historically organised into three battalions; the First Battalion based in the...
in 1969 before republicans were again in a position to carry out attacks in Northern Ireland's capital city.
The IRA of the 1920s in Belfast is the subject of the song Belfast Brigade
Belfast Brigade
"Belfast Brigade" is an Irish folk song, to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic".-Context:The song is about the Belfast Brigade of the Irish Republican Army , and in particular the 1st, or West Belfast battalion, during the Irish War of Independence in the 1920s...
.