Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., St. Benedict’s Rectory, 320 West End Street, New York, to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., affirming that he will soon be leaving for Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, and referring to his impressions of New York. He notes: ‘I feel absolutely no interest in it. I’d willingly go back, do my term of exile – be it long or short – in Mountjoy’. He also refers to the political divisions in the Irish community in the city. He concludes by asking if republican prisoners in Ireland have been released. He writes ‘Is Dev free. The press here doesn’t consider Ireland worthy of mention. England has great social, financial and business grip here’.
A handbill, in the republican interest, underlining the emphasis in the articles of the Irish Free State constitution which were declared vital and unalterable by Kevin O’Higgins – ‘on the authority of the King’. Published in Dublin .
Letter dated 13 Nov. 1922, signed Proinnsias Ó Gallchobhair (Frank Gallagher), and addressed to the Most Rev. Edward Joseph Byrne, Archbishop of Dublin (1872-1940). The letter refers to the treatment of Republican prisoners. Published in Glasgow and printed by Kirkwood & Co.
A pamphlet authored by a ‘priest’ referring to the stance taken by the Catholic Church in supporting the Free State administration, and denouncing Anti-Treaty Republicans, and refusing to administer the sacraments to irregulars. On 10 Oct. 1922, the Catholic Bishops of Ireland issued a formal Pastoral, describing the anti-treaty campaign as ‘a system of murder and assassination of the National forces without any legitimate authority …’. Published in [Glasgow: 1922].
A one-off Anti-Treaty publication produced on a duplicating machine with caricatures of Sir Alfred Cope, Cosgrave, Mulcahy, Walsh, Blythe, Fitzgerald, etc. The drawings are attributed to Constance de Markievicz (1868-1927). The publication includes caricatures of: Séan Ó Muirthile, member of the Supreme Council of the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood) 1916, Head and shoulders. Desmond Fitzgerald, (1889-1947), Minister for External Affairs 1922-1927 and Minister for Propaganda outside the cabinet, August 1921. Described as ‘Liar in Chief to Publicity Department. Slave-State’. Head and shoulders, full face. Ernest Blythe (1889-1975), Minister of Posts and Telegraphs: ‘The importance of being Earnest …’. J.J. Walsh: ‘The man of “letters” with the “mailed” fist; Richard Mulcahy: ‘haunted by the dreams of prisoners murdered by his troops’; W.T. Cosgrave: ‘Jester in chief to the Freak State as seen in the Empire’.
An anti-Treaty cartoon satirizing Séan Ó Muirthile (1881-1941) as a member of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and commandant of Gormanston camp in County Meath.
Cartoons attributed to Constance de Markievicz (1868-1927). • A figure of Hibernia with arms behind her back and chained. Michael Collins (1890-1922), holds a gun to her head. Behind Michael Collins are a bishop and William Thomas Cosgrave, (1880-1965). In front of Hibernia and carrying a piece of paper with the words ‘Propaganda D.F.’, is Desmond Fitzgerald, (1889-1947). The caption reads: Carey Collins - Go down on your b------ knees without any more d-----d fuss swear allegiance to King George and his heirs. : Faker Fitzgerald - Don't listen to Devalera [sic]. I could tell you a lot about great great grandmother and Spanish gold. : The Bishop - Take any other oath that will get you out of your difficulties. : Comic Cosgrave - It was an awful joke talking about freedom, you know. • The branded arm of James O’Reilly Sketched from life by C de M. View of an arm with the sleeve rolled up to expose branded marks. According to the printed statement on the accompanying page, Stephen Gorman aka James O’Reilly of Ballyblia, Ardee, County Louth, was arrested on 11 September 1922 while travelling on a weekend visit to Drogheda. He was arrested on suspicion that he had taken part in a republican demonstration in Ardee. He was then branded. Notes: Title printed. Watermarks visible. Physical description: 1 stencil print: roneo; 32.6 x 19.3 cm. (2 copies).
A photographic postcard print with the printed title 'Commandant McKeown T.D.'. The portrait print shows Commandant Seán Mac Eoin (1893-1973), a senior IRA soldier during the War of Independence.
A propaganda handbill urging support for Joseph McGuinness. The poem reads: ‘And now, says I, where’s your right hand, To strike a blow for the rebel band, And drive John Redmond out of the land? Now, who are you going to vote for?’
