The Irish Civil War commenced on June 28, 1922, when Free State forces, under Michael Collins's orders, opened fire on anti-Treaty IRA forces occupying Dublin's Four Courts. Using artillery borrowed from the British, the bombardment marked the beginning of a conflict that would tear the new nation apart. The battle lasted for three days and resulted in the destruction of centuries of irreplaceable historical documents, including those in the Irish Public Record Office. This event represented the "point of no return" and officially started the conflict between pro- and anti-Treaty factions.
