ABSTRACT
Collins is released from prison and returns to Ireland, and takes stock of the military lessons learned from the 1916 Rising. Through the secret IRB he engages in rebuilding and reorganising the Irish Volunteers and, together with his long-time friend Harry Boland, works on the political front and reorganises Sinn Fein. Elections are held in Ireland and Sinn Fein, winning at first a small number of by-elections, then wins, on a massive scale, the majority of seats in Ireland. A parliament or Dail convenes and a de facto Irish government is formed. Through the separatist and isolationist policy of Sinn Fein, Ireland still tends to look to the political peaceful path for self-determination, and the Irish Volunteers are viewed as a defensive organisation – however Collins and the IRB have other ideas.
