Stamp set marks War of Independence flashpoints

24 September 2020

An Post today issued two new stamps, the latest in a series designed to mark Ireland’s Decade of Centenaries.

The stamp set, designed by Ger Garland, depicts the role and impact of political confrontation and civil disobedience during the War of Independence. Both are ‘N’ rate stamps covering postage in Ireland. The stamps and accompanying First Day Cover envelope (FDC) are available from main Post Offices, Dublin’s GPO and online at www.anpost.com/shop.

The first stamp, a photograph taken in Westport Town Hall in the summer of 1920, is of an IRA Court in Session.  The Dáil Courts were founded to oversee a system of Irish law from 1920-24. The picture features Conor Maguire presiding, who later became Chief Justice of Ireland, along with Edward Moane on his left and John O’Boyle on his right.  The image is reproduced courtesy of the National Museum of Ireland.

The second stamp highlights what is described as the largest show of civil disobedience in support of the War of Independence. The stamp reproduces a headline in the ‘Freeman’s Journal’ on 21 May 1920 ‘Dockers Down Tools’ and refers to the Munitions Strike whereby dockers refused to discharge British munitions from a vessel in Dublin.  The strike action, which continued until December 1920, quickly spread across Ireland with railworkers also refusing to handle munitions. 

The First Day Cover (FDC) is an illustration of the burning of Cork from the Hogan-Wilson Collection and is reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.