Strike in Lewes Jail Handbill

The handbill see here was published in June 1917 and discusses the plight of the Irish prisoners in Lewes Jail who had been held since the Easter Rising in 1916.  The prisoners had gone on hunger strike in an effort to try and force the British government to treat them with the same rights afforded to prisoners of war instead of treating them like common criminals.

“Irish Men and Women Remember!” Handbill

The handbill seen here was published in late December 1916 after the release of the prisoners who were interned in the wake of the Easter Rising.  The handbill draws attention to the fact that even though the prisoners had been released, the bodies of the leaders of the 1916 Rising were still buried in Arbour Hill Barrack Yard

Letter from 1st Southern Division IRA to General Headquarters IRA

The letter seen here is believed to have been written by a member of the staff of the First Southern Division and sent to IRA GHQ in Dublin on 26 January 1921.  The letter outlines an incident where two members of the local Royal Irish Constabulary Auxiliary force raided the home of Nellie O’Mahoney

How John D. Nugent treated the men who helped the Dublin Strikers in 1913

The handbill seen here was printed prior to the 1918 general election in Ireland and encourages voters in the St. Michan’s district of Dublin to vote for Sinn Fein candidate Michael Staines.  Staines had served as Quartermaster General in the GPO during the 1916 Easter Rising and gained public notoriety as being one of James Connolly’s stretcher bearers.

Address To The Dublin Brigade

The “Address To The Dublin Brigade” was a memo written by Oscar Traynor, after the Anti-Treaty IRA was defeated in Dublin during the Irish Civil War.  Traynor had been a promising youth soccer player who joined the Irish Volunteers in 1914.  He fought during the 1916 Rising and was subsequently interned in Frongoch…

Compensation Claim for Death of Nicholas Prendergast, 1 December 1920

The document seen here is an application for compensation for loss of life or property during the Irish War of Independence.  This application was submitted on 18 February 1921, by Eileen Prendergast, who was seeking financial compensation from the British government for the murder of her husband, Nicholas de Sales Prendergast.

The Right To Shoot

This handbill title “The Right To Shoot,” was published by The Peace with Ireland Council, based in Westminster, England. This was a group of British Citizens seeking to end the ongoing conflict in Ireland during the Irish War of Independence. This handbill highlights a series of atrocities committed

“Inquest on Thos. Ashe.” Handbill

The handbill seen here states the findings of the jury in the inquest on Thomas Ashe’s death via ill treatment and forced feeding in prison. It was published by Fergus O’Connor of Dublin in late September 1917. This handbill was distributed throughout Dublin after Ashe’s death to

Letter from Margaret Ruth Leslie to her cousin, Cecil George Leslie, 4 May 1916

The letter seen here is the second sent by Margaret Ruth Leslie, during the Easter Rising, to her cousin Cecil George Leslie. In her first letter Leslie described the events of the week up through 29 April 1916. Her letters are insightful as she describes the events of the Rising from a civilian, Unionist perspective. She continues the account of her experience during Easter week in this letter from 4 May 1916.

$10 Irish Republican Bond Certificate

Mrs. Mary Lare purchased the $10 Republic of Ireland Bond Certificate seen here on 21st January 1920. The certificate was sold as part of the first Dáil loan, which was designed to fund the foundation of the…

Cathal Brugha Memorial Card

The memorial card seen here is for Cathal Brugha who was a leading Irish Revolutionary and politician in Dáil Éireann. Brugha was second in command of the garrison at the South Dublin Union during the Easter Rising. Brugha was badly wounded during the fighting…

Letter from Margaret Ruth Leslie to her cousin Cecil George Leslie, 29 April 1916

Margaret Leslie’s letter to her brother Cecil George Leslie on 29 April 1916 provides a brilliant insight into the events of the Easter Rising as experienced by civilians in Dublin. Leslie was also from a wealthy Unionist family, and supported the efforts of the British forces to stop the Rising in Dublin. Her perspective is unique..

“Stop Press: Inhumanity In Belfast Jail” Leaflet

Sinn Fein published this handbill titled “Stop Press: Inhumanity In Belfast Jail,” in June 1918. It was published after political prisoners being held in the Belfast jail complained that they were being poorly treated. The contents of the handbill states…

Travel Pass Issued 3 May 1916

The British government declared martial law in Dublin on 25 April 1916, after the outbreak of the Rising. By the end of the week, the British extended the martial law order to include all of Ireland. The declaration of martial law severely…

T.P. O’Connor Letter to Sir Reginald Brade, K.C.B., 6 June, 1916

T.P. O’Connor, who was an Irish Parliamentary Party MP in the House of Commons, wrote a letter to Sir Reginald Brade, the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War, on 6 June, 1916, requesting assistance with having a death sentence commuted for a young man from Belfast who had taken part in the Easter Rising…

Internment Notice Issued to John Meagher

In the aftermath of the Easter Rising, the British government in Ireland sought to round up any persons associated with republican military and political groups deemed responsible for the rebellion. The example seen here…