Micheál Martin: Post-Civil War politics succeeded in the face of massive pressures

When we look at the causes of the Civil War, we should start by accepting the good faith of the positions held by those who took opposite sides on the Treaty

The unveiling of a monument by Sean Lemass at Ahiohil, Co Cork, commemorating Richard Barrett, who was executed during the Irish Civil War.

Civil wars always leave scars. They create divisions which go beyond the cause of the conflict and are found not just at the national level, but also within communities and families.

However, one of the great mistakes which can be made in remembering civil wars is to assume that the challenge is to decide ‘who was right’ rather than to try to find new narratives and understandings.