Michael Collins

Does anyone outthere who knows there Irish History believe that If Collins had lived through the Civil war he would have Managed to get The North Of Ireland back? He would of without a doubht been Taoiseach  of course without a Doubht i believe but Does anyone really believe that It Would have made a Differance? I know this is a Question that is mostly based on Peoples actual feelings rather than a yes or no History Question but I am hoping to get a few Oppinions. Thank you

Yes and He also had Troops stationed nearthe bourder of the North before his Death. I think he was Planning an Invasion. Oh He would I am sure have done a lot had he not been Taken away from Ireland.

They would not have cooperated f Course. But I do believe that Collins was the man to take it back if anyone was to d oit. There would be Riots I am sure and There is no telling what would have Happened but I think It proves that he was thinking about it.

Well see the Ulstermen would not have had Enough Guns for an  all out war. But yes there Would be very very Strong destruction. ,aybe Britain would have supported them. No openly but they may have supplied Guns And ammunation in Secret. There is no telling what would have Happened up There. Bt I believe Collins would have beaten whatever it was. Or at least gave it his All. The Ulstermen I am guessing would form an Underground Group like the IRA. Only in there favour

Yes you are Right. That is why I said who knows what would have happened. All I was saying is that If anyone would be able to take it back it would be Him .Also the IRA  would not be an occupation force if the North had been taking. The Free State Army would have been. And some old IRA men would have I  am sure Helped. But you hit the Nail on the Head my friend when you spoke of the Large  Percentage of Loyalists up here. That would be the Big Probilem. And I am unsure what Collins or any other Man for that Matter would have done. But  Its worth Mentioning that there were Nationalists up there to. And I do not belive 75% of the  People were Loyalists. Though they did outnumber the Nationalists by a large amount. That Much  we can I believe be Very Sure about. The British Government however would not want to start Fighting Ireland again so soon right after a war already. Do not forget many British People themselves were disgusted by the Black and Tans behaviour. As were many other People all around the World. America  As well. The British may have given in to Ireland over that small amount of land If it kept an other War from starting whitch Would have been a bigger deal that the War of Indepandance. This war would be actual Invasion on British Soil(Even though it was part of Ireland) And the British  Army would have to fight with all its might to win. And If it had then Hands down it would have won. But As I said they may not have been Willing to do this right after a Conflict had ended. Ity certaintly would have lowered Britains reputation In the World. Fighting a Nation ten times if not more weaker than it over a Tiny Few Miles of Land that Belonged to them People anyway in actual right. Collins Knew and recognised this. So did a great Many other men. But He was the Only  who seemed to be actually Getting ready to put his thoughts into action. However Sadly Before any sort of Battle War or even Skirmish could be Used agaisnt the North. Michael Collins was Killed. Leaving behind the Nation he made. And his ever lasting Legacy. Theres no telling what would have been the outcome had he lived.

Could but I do not think it would. The Tans were sent over to Ireland originaly as a Police force. The Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve force. They acted as Army Men themselves however. When the RA attacked them they did not know what to do. Becasue they were not trained to Cope with the Guerrilla warfare tactitcs the RA used. So they Just attacked Civilians instead. Thats there legacy. Thats how they made there name as the Bad People we know them as today. However the Free state Army would have been ale to Spare the troops needed to Govern Such a Area as North Ireland whith does not even Include all the North. Donegal is in the North and Is still in the Free state. (Wel is in the Republic now.)The Ulstermen whats more were not really Speratists. The wanted British Power behind them all along. They feared they would be persecuted in a  largely Catholic and Nationalist South. So they Demanded to Remain in the Union of Britain. Also the Free State Army I do not belive would have acted the Same as the Tans. I am not  trying to make all Irish Sound like they never do anything wrong. I am sure some of them wouldhave been cruel to Natives up North. But largely not as bad. Whats more many of them were IRA men in the past before the Free State was established and as such they would be very used to Fighting With Guerrilla warfare Tactics. Ambushing them or Hit and run manouvers by the enemy would not be much good as the Free staters would no exactly what to do to Counter it. But As I say there is no real proof as to what would have happened. We can only Guess.

Armies can certainly start off with good intentions and good training to do the job. Look at the British army in Iraq, things deteriorate in as the years set in.

Originally posted by Nick1986 Did the Irish have the resources to invade British-held Ulster? Pacification would take years as the Protestants had close links to Britain