Just noticed this on journalist Michael O’Regan (of the Irish Times) twitter feed about the Anglo – Irish treaty of 1921 was more or less forced through by the British, who had intimidated the Irish delegates into signing the Treaty.
This treaty split Ireland into two states, one with limited independence and another still tied to the British state.
It suited only the British who supplied the Pro-treaty side with money and arms which resulted in the Pro-treaty side winning the subsequent civil war. This is a turning point in Irish history, Collins and Griffith had accepted a lot less than Irish freedom and had buckled under pressure from the British government. This could be said to be “What if ” if Collins and Griffith had held their nerve and refused to split the country what would Ireland be like now ? Maybe a lot less immigration to Britain and the USA and not so reactionary/church ridden past.
Its all a case of “What if ” and maybe but Collins and Griffith should have been prepared to stand together and fight the British rather than risk a civil war in Ireland. Its a case of the wrong decision being made and the effects of which touch us till this very day.
