On the same day, the first Dáil was meeting, an ambush takes place at Soloheadbeg, Co Tipperary that is now seen as being the opening skirmish in the War of Independence, a war that would ultimately see much of Ireland gain independence from Britain.

An unauthorised attack led by Seán Treacy and Dan Breen resulted in the deaths of two RIC constables, James McDonnell and Patrick O’Connell. Although much of nationalist Ireland went on to support the war against Britain, this attack evoked outrage at the time. Breen, a ruthless, brilliant guerilla fighter later said ‘The people had voted for a Republic; now they seemed to abandon us who tried to bring that Republic nearer, for we had taken them at their word. Our former friends shunned us. They preferred the drawing-room as a battleground.’