Liam Lynch (Irish republican)
William Fanaghan Lynch was an Irish Republican Army officer during the Irish War of Independence of 1919–1921. During much of the Irish Civil War, he was chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army. On 10 April 1923, Lynch was killed whilst trying to escape an encirclement by Free State troops in south Tipperary.
Photograph of Lynch by Patrick Stritch, 1920
Lynch with some of his divisional staff and officers of the brigades, including the 1st Southern Division, who attended as delegates to the Anti-Treaty Army Convention at the Mansion House, Dublin, on 9 April 1922.
Bloodstained handkerchief belonging to Lynch at the time of his death (Tipperary Museum of Hidden History); a Cumann na mBan member embroidered the message on it, alluding to Robert Emmet's famous speech from the dock.
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence or Anglo-Irish War was a guerrilla war fought in Ireland from 1919 to 1921 between the Irish Republican Army and British forces: the British Army, along with the quasi-military Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and its paramilitary forces the Auxiliaries and Ulster Special Constabulary (USC). It was part of the Irish revolutionary period.
RIC and British Army personnel near Limerick, c.1920
West Connemara IRA flying column
Police wanted poster for Dan Breen, one of those involved in the Soloheadbeg Ambush in 1919.
Wall plaque in Great Denmark Street, Dublin where the Dublin IRA Active Service Unit was founded.