The First Dáil and the Start of the Irish War of Independence

On January 21, 1919, the First Dáil Éireann, the revolutionary parliament of the Irish Republic, convened in Dublin. This marked a significant step towards Irish independence from Britain.

The First Dáil was composed of members elected in the 1918 general election. The majority were from the Sinn Féin party, which had campaigned for Irish independence.

On the same day, the Irish War of Independence began with the Soloheadbeg Ambush in County Tipperary. The Irish Volunteers, later known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), attacked and killed two Royal Irish Constabulary officers, seizing a quantity of gelignite in the process.

The war lasted until 1921, with the IRA conducting a guerrilla campaign against British forces. The conflict resulted in significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

This period marked a significant turning point in Irish history, leading to the eventual establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.