The war with Great Britain was disastrous, but it opened up new doors and opportunities. With the uneasy peace setting in, the Irish are already analyzing the war. Irish strategies proved adept at crippling the spearhead of British offensive capacities, but clever strategy only got the republic so far. Ireland was overwhelmed and facing the prospect of a guerilla war that would injure the Irish as much as the British. The Republic ultimately still relied on the aid of the French to secure what really was a mediocre victory at best. Part of the Republic now sits under the occupation of a power considered dangerous and hostile. For the first time in almost a century, the ‘Englishmen’ hold sway over sovereign territory of the Irish nation. The war, while having stymied the growing dissent in the ranks of the Republic for a brief period, has truly, utterly, crushed faith in the present administration; and confidence in the government as a whole. What is the point in believing in a government which failed to protect its citizens, in a government which has stubbornly crippled the nation through years of isolationism? This is a question that many in Ireland can no longer hold themselves back from asking. The people can no longer content themselves in being proud of some state, just because it was that of their forefathers. Change is on the horizon, and it will happen with or without Dublin’s consent. There are murmurs in the Armed Forces, especially the Navy, that the government was too passive in the war against Britain. Many in the Defense Forces feel as though the government made too many concessions at the cost of civilian lives and infrastructure, concessions that would’ve been unnecessary had the Republic been properly prepared to wage a war. The Commodore has even dared to assert that the Naval Service could’ve operated more effectively without Dublin’s interdiction. Not just the devastation on the frontlines, but also the economic troubles have brought further ill will upon the Oireachtas. Ireland has lived under harsh rationing for centuries, conserving resources and limiting imports as much as possible, but the war reminded the state that even with such reserves, the stagnant economy can still only hold itself together for so long. Protests in Dublin, Cork, Mayo, Limerick, and Galway, especially among the educated youth, have shaken many of the pro-establishment politicians to their very core. While dissent had been spreading prior to the war, this new wave is much more vocal and contagious, in a way that leaves many in Dublin anxious and increasingly reactionary. On the contrary, several in the halls of the Oireachtas secretly are sympathetic to these dissidents, including many reformists who had their dreams crushed years ago by a dead-in-the-water Parliament. There is opportunity in the dissent after all; opportunity for development, reform, renaissance. While faith in the government is lower than ever, Irish pride and belief in a great national identity grows stronger by the day. Nationalist fervor charges the people. The war may have injured Ireland, but it has opened the door to a resurgence of Irish political culture. People are on the move, the Republic is prostrate no longer. Real movements set on progress and modernization are on the horizon. A period of 400 years is coming to a great end, and the 2nd Anglo-Irish War proved invaluable in pushing the nation towards this new future; one defined not by the Republic, but by a growing popular movement… The nation is ripe for ideological cultivation. The time is opportune for amelioration.
I’m trying to overcome my chronic perfectionism (and subsequent inactivity) by writing smaller projects and not worrying so much about how pretentious I sound lol. I spend way too much time nitpicking when ultimately the changes I make will barely affect what people do or how they react to this, so I’m trying to be more ‘casual’ I guess. ¯\(ツ)/¯ Credit to @Marica_games for the TV effect thingy Music by Chris Zabrieskie, “Candlepowder”
