This series consists of pamphlets on topics related to Irish political, social and cultural issues published during the revolutionary era. The collection contains pamphlets and publications relating primarily to the political tensions of this period and includes original pamphlets written by Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, the Most Rev. Edward Thomas O’Dwyer, Bishop of Limerick, William O’Brien, George Noble Plunkett, Cumann na mBan, Darrell Figgis, Frank Gallagher and Ėamon de Valera.
A censored edition of the 'Catholic Bulletin', Vol. VI, no. 5-6, May-June 1916. On pp 250-253 there is a blank space with the title ‘Dublin – May 1916’ over a signature, probably referring to a poem by Gobnait Ní Bhruadair which was censored. Similarly, ‘Matters of the Moment’ has also been left purposely blank (pp 261-3). An annotation in pen on the front cover reads ‘Specimens of censorship. No editorial. No notes on Matters of Moment. Part of Msgr. O’Riordan’s Sermon, p. 267’.
A pamphlet authored by Francis Sheehy-Skeffington (1878-1916) and Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington (1877-1946) referring to the struggle for Irish Independence and the country’s role in the First World War.
A pamphlet by William O’Brien (1852-1928) regarding the Irish Convention, an assembly which sat in Dublin, from July 1917 until March 1918, which sought to address the Irish Question and other constitutional problems relating to an early enactment of self-government for Ireland. Includes an ‘Authorized report of speech delivered on May 21, 1917, in the House of Commons, in the debate on Mr. Lloyd George’s Irish proposals’.
A Sinn Féin leaflet criticising the British financial system in Ireland which operates as a ‘form of industrial exploitation’. The handbill is numbered ‘59’.
An anti-Treaty publicity item titled 'The branded arm of James O’Reilly Sketched from life by C de M'. The cartoon is attributed to Constance Markievicz (1868-1927). The sketch shows 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.
A pamphlet referring to the redraft of the Treaty by Ėamon de Valera titled a ‘Proposed Treaty of Association between Ireland and the British Commonwealth’ or more commonly known as ‘Document No. 2’, presented to Dáil Eireann in January 1922. Published in Dublin by the Irish Nation Committee [1923]. Titled ‘No. 6’ in a series. Who abandoned the Republic? / By a Western Priest is ‘No. 3’ in this series (CA/IR/1/7/3/23).
A republican handbill ‘To Caithleen ni Houlihan’, representing Ireland, notifying ‘you that by virtue of the authority vested in me by His Majesty King George V., your son was executed at dawn this morning’. The handbill is signed ‘W.T. Cosgrave’. The handbill is numbered ‘61’.
