1919 Timeline

21 January: First meeting of Dáil Éireann in Dublin’s Mansion House declares Ireland independent.

From the Houses of the Oireachtas: Dáil100.

 

21 January: Soloheadbeg ambush in Co. Tipperary. Two members of RIC are killed in an attack by members of the IRA under Dan Breen and Sean Treacy; this is generally regarded as the first engagement of the War of Independence.

From Century Ireland: Two policemen killed in Soloheadbeg attack.

 

3 February: Éamon de Valera escapes from Lincoln Prison.

From Century Ireland: De Valera in sensational escape from Lincoln Prison.

 

7 February: Thomas Johnson and Cathal O’Shannon admitted as Irish representatives to the International Labour and Socialist Conference – the ‘First International’ – in Berne, Switzerland.

From the Irish Trade Union Congress: Ireland at Berne.

 

8 February: Sinn Féin delegation arrives in Paris with intention of lobbying postwar peace conference to recognise Irish independence.

From Century Ireland: Ireland’s Paris plea for independence.

 

1 April: Éamon de Valera elected president of Dáil Éireann

 

14-25 April: ‘Limerick Soviet’ takes place as a general strike organised by the labour movement in the city to protest against imposition of martial law; the strike committee takes on responsibility of maintaining supplies and public order in the city.

 

28 April: Covenent of the League of Nations signed in Paris.

 

3 May: Delegation from the US-based ‘Friends of Irish Freedom’ arrives in Ireland.

 

1 June: De Valera leaves Ireland to embark on 18-month publicity and fundraising tour of US.

 

3 June: Local Government (Ireland) Act comes into force.

 

15 June: John Alcock and Arthur Brown complete the first non-stop transatlantic flight, crash-landing in a bog near Clifden in Co. Galway.

 

18 June: First Dáil courts established.

 

28 June: Signing of Versailles Treaty officially ends war between Germany and Allied powers.

 

4 July: Suppression of Sinn Féin, the Irish Volunteers, Cumann na mBan and the Gaelic League in Co. Tipperary

 

20 Aug: Irish Volunteers ordered to swear allegiance to Dáil Éireann.

 

10 Sept: Sinn Féin and and a range of other nationalist organistions banned in Co. Cork.

 

12 Sept: Dáil Éireann declared illegal by British authorities.

 

Nov 11: publication of first issue of the Dáil’s new propaganda organ, The Irish bulletin.

 

19 Dec: IRA attempt to assassinate the viceroy, Lord French of Ypres, near Dublin’s Phoenix Park.