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A pen-drawn cartoon sketch titled ‘Declaration of Irish Independence New York, March 4-5th 1916’; ‘Germany’s struggle with England is Ireland’s opportunity’. The cartoon depicts a troll-shaped caricature dressed in a Union-Jack flag (‘John Bull’) attacking a young women (‘Erin’). A crowned eagle (Imperial Germany) is attacking ‘John Bull’ thereby rescuing ‘Erin’. Annotation in right hand top corner reads: ‘A.III.C & Y’

An Anti-Treaty handbill: 'The Congo Free State ...'.

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.

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 in the republican interest referring to those interned by British authorities in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising. Written by the Most Rev. Edward Thomas O’Dwyer (1842-1917), Bishop of Limerick. Published in Limerick, 1917.

A report of speech by the Bishop of Limerick, a self-proclaimed nationalist and land-reformer, referring to contemporary political opinion. Alone of all the Irish Hierarchy, O’Dwyer was the only one to support the leaders of the 1916 Rising. A sentence beginning ‘Ireland will never be content as a province’ is underlined in the text. With 'Irish Emigrants and English Mobs / Letter from the Bishop of Limerick' (10 Nov. 1915).

An election handbill produced by Patrick McCartan (1878-1963), the Sinn Féin candidate, during the South Armagh by-election which was held on 2 February 1918. The handbill strongly attacks John Redmond’s call for Irish nationalists to support the British war effort.

A sketch (coloured ink on paper) by Patrick O'Carroll titled 'An Afternoon's Drink' presumably penned while he was incarcerated in Limerick Jail in early 1923. The work is signed in the bottom right-hand corner 'P. O'Carroll / Kilfinane'.

A collection of street ballad leaflets assembled by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (1876-1965), a Capuchin friar, in 1921. The handbills relate to events in the War of Independence from 1919-21. This contentious period produced its share of controversial literature mainly in the form of leaflets, handbills, ballads and other forms of popular street literature. The treatment of prisoners during the War of Independence was the subject of political and social outrage and was reflected in popular ballads celebrating the lives of Kevin Barry, Patrick Moran, Thomas Traynor and other republican prisoners executed in Mountjoy Jail in Dublin and in other locations following courts martial from 1920-1. Most of the ballads recounted popular stories told in simple metre, and set to (mostly) traditional airs. The ballad titles include:
'Kevin Barry'
'The Bould Black & Tan'
'God Save the Peelers'
'Commandant McKeown'
'My Little Grey Home in Mountjoy'
'Thomas Traynor / Died for Ireland / Mountjoy Prison / April 26 '21'
'Brave sons of Granuaile'
'The Standard of Green, White & Gold / A Song of Truce'
'Latest Hit / If you're Irish We're goin' to Suppress you'

Letter from a General Staff Officer, National Army Headquarters, Portobello Barracks, to the editor of the 'Evening Herald', returning a copy (enclosed) of a republican publicity feature titled 'Mr. Kevin Higgins' attacks on President De Valera'. The National Army officer affirms that the publication of this feature has not been permitted.