Legacy and memory As with most civil wars, the internecine conflict left a bitter legacy, which continues to influence Irish politics to this day. The two largest political parties in the republic through most of its history (except for the 2011 and 2020 general elections) were Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the descendants respectively of the anti-treaty and pro-treaty forces of 1922. Until the 1970s, almost all of Ireland's prominent politicians were veterans of the Civil War, a fact which poisoned the relationship between Ireland's two biggest parties. Civil War veterans include Republicans Éamon de Valera, Frank Aiken, Todd Andrews and Seán Lemass; and Free State supporters W. T. Cosgrave, Richard Mulcahy and Kevin O'Higgins.Seán Lemass's brother Noel, a captain in the Anti-Treaty IRA, was abducted and shot by Free State forces in July 1923, two months after the war had ended. His body was dumped in the Wicklow Mountains, near Glencree, where it was found in October 1923. The spot where his body was found is marked by a memorial. O'Higgins was the Minister for Economic Affairs in the Free State government and was hated by Republicans for having been in favour of the execution of prisoners during the Civil War. His elderly father was killed by republicans during the war. O'Higgins himself was assassinated on his way to mass in 1927 by Anti-Treaty IRA members. His killing precipitated a government clampdown on the IRA and forced Fianna Fáil to take the Oath of Allegiance in order to contest elections.
legacy and memory as with most civil wars the internecine conflict left a bitter legacy which continues to influence irish politics to this day the two largest political parties in the republic through most of its history (except for the 2011 and 2020 general elections) were fianna fáil and fine gael the descendants respectively of the anti-treaty and pro-treaty forces of 1922 until the 1970s almost all of ireland's prominent politicians were veterans of the civil war a fact which poisoned the relationship between ireland's two biggest parties civil war veterans include republicans éamon de valera frank aiken todd andrews and seán lemass; and free state supporters w t cosgrave richard mulcahy and kevin o'higginsseán lemass's brother noel a captain in the anti-treaty ira was abducted and shot by free state forces in july 1923 two months after the war had ended his body was dumped in the wicklow mountains near glencree where it was found in october 1923 the spot where his body was found is marked by a memorial o'higgins was the minister for economic affairs in the free state government and was hated by republicans for having been in favour of the execution of prisoners during the civil war his elderly father was killed by republicans during the war o'higgins himself was assassinated on his way to mass in 1927 by anti-treaty ira members his killing precipitated a government clampdown on the ira and forced fianna fáil to take the oath of allegiance in order to contest elections