Article on Civil War reminded reader of ‘Fox News-esque propaganda’

Dear Editor,

An Staraí Áitiúil, in his/her article on ‘The Civil War 100 Years Ago’ (Roscommon People issue 5/5), needs many footnotes and clarifications. S/he states that opposition to the Treaty was spearheaded by a generation who had suffered death, imprisonment and hardship – didn’t the pro-Treaty people suffer the very same? After all, they were in the same camp prior to the ceasefire and Treaty.

The article didn’t say why Éamon de Valera forced Michael Collins to be part of the delegation that would negotiate with the vastly more experienced British team.

Of course we now know that he (Dev) had a letter in his pocket from British PM Lloyd George, outlining what was (and what was not) on offer and that he (Dev) had no intention of being blamed when the full Republic was not part of that offer – so send the most wanted man in Ireland, Michael Collins, who was as yet unknown to the British. As such, Collins was in no position to ‘dig in his heels’ or make any big demands, as the Brits were only waiting for an excuse to have him tried and executed.

An Staraí Áitiúil doesn’t mention that the Irish delegation had a hired plane on standby to fly them home in the middle of the night if the negotiations failed. I wonder why? The SixCounty State was already being set up, so that was very obviously ‘off the table’. Yes, I agree, the pro-Treaty TDs narrowly won the Dáil vote after Michael Collins’ impassioned speech –and Dev’s reaction was to lead his followers out of the meeting.

The General Election that soon followed that victory, and fought on acceptance or rejection of the treaty, was consolidated by the people of the country when they returned a majority of TDs who were in favour of said treaty and peace –they didn’t want any more war, and certainly not civil war. De Valera didn’t accept either vote, and we know what happened then. So much for democracy – and indeed hypocrisy!

Yes, there were threats from that warmonger, Winston Churchill (who sent us the Black & Tans) of “immediate and terrible war” if democracy was not restored. Might is always right!

The article’s author, An Staraí Áitiúil, seems most anxious to blame everything on Michael Collins. S/he should tell us why! Yes, Collins was innocent in some ways, too trusting of former friends, etc. Going to Cork without ad- equate protection and in the hope of meeting his former friend, De Valera, to try and work out a peace deal, in hindsight, was not a good idea. I could go on and on, but what’s the point?

An Staraí Áitiúil would need to study the facts before putting his/her views into the public domain. Also, it would’ve been enlightening to them if s/he saw the fine documentary on RTÉ 1 recently, ‘Taking Sides: Britain and the Civil War’, presented by Michael Portillo.

I’ve discussed the original article with a man who is much better up on history than me, and – as I expected – he said he disagreed with large parts of it, saying “someone can have a bias, but that is just blatant Fox News-esque propaganda”.

The Free State did commit atrocities, but the article’s author doesn’t mention what the antiTreaty side did – making them out to be total angels. There’s not even any pretence at a bit of balance. History is fact, not fiction. As the author has decided to stay anonymous, I’ll do likewise!

Yours sincerely,

Roscommon People reader

(Name and address with Editor, withheld on request)