Civil War Centenary: Eye-witness account as first shots fired in Dublin

The attack by the National Army on the Four Courts was the start of the Civil War. We republish an eyewitness account from a Cork Examiner journalist who was on the streets as the first shots in the Battle for Dublin were fired.

The Four Courts in Dublin burn after Free State troops fired on it to drive out Republican rebels, who occupied it in protest over the treaty.

DURING the small hours of this morning Dublin was provided with a startling development in connection with the occupation of the Four Courts by irregular troops.

Between three and four o’clock explosions and fusillades made the citizens realise that the siege of the Four Courts, by Beggar’s Bush troops had commenced.