The 1924 Army Mutiny was one of the most serious internal crises faced by the Irish Free
State, coming just after the Civil War. The state, formed in 1922 after the Anglo-Irish Treaty,
was financially and emotionally devastated. With a Civil War army of 55,000 soldiers, the
new government needed to downsize to around 17,000–18,000 to cut costs and meet treaty
obligations.
This demobilisation enraged many officers—especially those with ties to the Irish
Republican Army Organisation (IRAO), a secret society within the National Army. They
believed demobilisation betrayed their sacrifices and favoured ex-British officers over War of
Independence veterans. Dissatisfaction grew over perceived nepotism, the influence of the
IRB within the Army Council, and the belief that military loyalty was being undermined.
Veterans like Major-General Liam Tobin and Colonel Charles Dalton, once part of Michael
Collins’s intelligence network, claimed the Army was corrupt and unfairly structured. The
National Army, they argued, was split: 40% ex-IRA, 10% civilians hostile to the IRA, and
50% ex-British Army. Demands were sent to President Cosgrave, and if such demands were not met it was possible for Ireland to descend into a Second Civil War.
Join Conor this week as he dives into the 1924 Army Mutiny, an event that could have spilled into a civil war worse than what came before with the new army comprising many veterans of that very conflict. From the immediate aftermath and quality of the National Army, to the reasons and demands levied by prominent members of the officer class of that army, and the resolution that had to be reached quickly to avoid any further bloodshed, witness how the new Irish Free State almost descended into a warzone yet again.
This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!
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Sources & Further Reading:
- Dorney, John, "The Civil War in Dublin".
- Dwyer, Ryle, "Decisive leadership and selflessness saved the nation after the Army Mutiny", (https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-20260714.html).
- Irish History Podcast, "The 1924 Army Mutiny".
- Kinsella, Eoin, "The Irish Defences, 1922-2022".
- McElhatton, Shane, "100 years since Army mutiny threatened new Civil War", (https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0306/1436169-army-mutiny-1924/).
- McElhatton, Shane, "'Set the heather on fire' - How a raid on Devlin's Pub ignited a second civil war", (https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0303/1435185-mutiny-two/) .
- The Irish Times, "Opinion - March 10th, 1924", (https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/march-10th-1924-1.479008).
- White, Gerry, "Call to arms: creating the Irish National Army", (https://www.rte.ie/history/2022/0125/1275830-call-to-arms-creating-the-irish-national-army/).
