Double page spread from the Illustrated London News featuring photographs depicting the battle of the Customs House in Dublin during the Irish War of Independence. The Burning of the Custom House in Dublin took place on 25 May 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. The Custom House was the centre of Local Government in the British administration in Ireland. It was occupied and then burnt in an operation by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), involving over 100 volunteers. The action was a propaganda coup for the forces of the Irish Republic but was a military disaster for the IRA in the Irish capital. Five of its volunteers were killed (along with three civilians) and over 80 were captured.