The year 1922 promised so much to every Irish person within the newly forming Free State. In January the Anglo-Irish Treaty had been passed by the Dáil, albeit by a slim margin. The transition from Colony to Dominion Free State seemed to be going smoothly, yet storm clouds were gathering, the Dáil was split on the treaty as were the men and women who fought for an independent Ireland.

In Clonmel, on the 9th of February of the same year, a large crowd of curious onlookers had gathered outside the infantry barracks to watch the Yorks and Lancashire Regiment leave the town and in the process hand over military control to the 5th Battalion of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade I.R.A. As the Tri-Colour was raised over the barracks one has to wonder how many of the onlookers were aware that the Infantry Barracks was now under the control of troops who opposed the Treaty. Such was the initial enthusiasm for the new occupiers of Clonmel Barracks that on the first Sunday a large crowd gathered to watch them, lead by the Clonmel fife and drum band, march to mass. The local clergy welcomed them as representatives of a new era for Ireland. Such was the reception shown to the troops that they opened the barracks that night for a public dance. The cordial relationship between troops and public would not last much longer, with the general election drawing nearer, tensions grew as anti-treaty troops and supporters started to exert their influence over local public opinion. An example would be that on the Easter Sunday, two young men were seen posting pro-treaty leaflets throughout the town, they were followed by anti-treaty supporters who were removing the leaflets just as quickly as they were being put up. This continued until the last mass of the day when as the congregation tried to leave they were stopped by troops and searched for pro-treaty propaganda. Such events would continue until the general election in June.

With the defeat of the Republicans in the June election the stage was set for the months of tension to spill over into Civil War. The day after the attack on the Four Courts Harry Boland arrived in Clonmel to call on the town garrison to send troops to Dublin in support of the men defending the Four Courts. A detachment of 125 men drawn from throughout the 5th battalion left Clonmel for Dublin. By the 1st of July a statement was released from Clonmel barracks stating that telegraph communication throughout southern Ireland was now under Irregular control but every effort would be made to continue mail services. On the same day a detachment of 100 troops under the command of Denis Lacey left Clonmel to attack Kilkenny, July had started on an almost subdued note for Clonmel but events to come would change that to what was to become known locally as Black July. The republican guard, a locally funded police force, was disbanded in early July. The situation was not helped by the sudden influx of troops and volunteers into the town. On the 8th of July hospital officials were informed by Irregular command to clear and make ready a wing of the hospital for Irregular troops only. Three days later the Field General Headquarters of Irregular forces relocated from Limerick to Clonmel, for a short time the town would become the centre for all Irregular operations.