Following the departure from Carlow of the British army forces in 1922 "Tatler" paid a visit to Carlow Military Barracks which was then occupied by the Irish Free State Army under the command of Commandant Liam Stack. Tatler's statement "more hygienic" may be a reference to the fact that upon taking over the Military Barracks it was discovered that the Northumbland Fusiliers had left behind 57 unemptied "piss-pots" !. Nationalist Feb. 1922. During the week I had occasion to visit the Carlow Military Barracks, and I was very much impressed by the type of young Irish soldiers I saw there. I knew some of them , and if the rest of the National Army are of the same type there need be no fear of the future. But apart from this , I must admit that whoever is responsible for the care of the buildings are to be congratulated. Carlow Military Barracks to-day are cleaner and "more hygienic" than in the days when the British Army of Occupation was quartered there. And again , the officers N.C.O.s and men were polite, with that politeness which is racy of the soil, not the cool , suspicious and formal politeness which I experienced during the last few years when duty forced me to the gate of Carlow Military Barracks. [ note added by Michael Purcell 2010. Unfortunately matters were a bit more unsettled than Tatler observed. The Irish Free State Army at this time was split in its loyalty to the Free State Government. Many of those who joined were supportive of the Treaty but another section strongly opposed the Treaty, two opposing armies were emerging . As a Brigade or Unit formed its loyalty from the majority of the soldiers in it, the soldiers opposed to their views would leave and join a different Unit where "republican" views prevailed. Soon whole Brigades and Units throughout Ireland were pro-Treaty or anti-Treaty. Most Commanders took their orders from the Free State Minister for Defence, Richard Mulcahy, the anti-Treaty people still owed their allegiance to Cathal Brugha, who had just resigned as Minister for Defence, and to de Valera who had resigned as President, all were preparing for resistance to the implementation of power by the pro-Treatyites . Barracks were taken over from the departing British army by local units with the result that in some areas the Military Barracks were in the control of a pro-Treaty garrison, in others anti-Treaty soldiers were in possession . During February 1922 clashes were occurring between the two forces, arms, ammunition, armoured cars and transport were taken from one side by the other as arrests and counter arrests were made. No one knew it at the time but the demarcation lines were been laid for the Civil War. To make matters more confusing the Irish Free State Army was also known as "the National Army" "the Dail Troops" "the Republican Army" "the Regulars" " Beggars Bush Troops" or simply "the Staters" whereas those who opposed the Treaty managed to retain the title "Irish Republican Army" sometimes called " the Irregulars".