January 21, 1919

The Irish War of Independence begins. On January 21st, 1919, a group of IRA members acting independently shot and killed two Royal Irish Constabulary officers traveling with explosives through Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary. In response to the attack, the British Government declared the area a Special Military Area under its Defense of the Realm Act. Though the 21st is commonly acknowledged as the start of the war, the newly organized Irish Dail (which had also held its first session on the same day as the attack) and President Éamon de Valera did not formally recognize the war with the British until over two years later, on March 11th 1921.