'Poblacht na hEireann (War News)', No. 47, 24 August 1922. This edition was published two days after the death of Michael Collins, the National Army's Commander-in-Chief, at Béal na Bláth in County Cork. Its editorial on Collins commences: 'Yesterday the Nation was shocked by the news of Michael Collins death … now his boundless energy and inexhaustible resource are no more ...' This is one of the last issues of 'War News' produced by Erskine Childers in West Cork before THE encircling National Army made anti-Treaty positions untenable, and he had to move the printing press into a vacant cottage at Ballyvourney. Helping him to print his news sheets were Sean O'Faolain, Frank O'Connor, Sean Hendrick (all famous writers), and R. Longford who later established the Lee Press in Cork city.
The file comprises the following editions: 28 June 1922 (no. 1) – 16 Mar. 1923 (no. 175). The series is missing a small number of editions but there are multiple copies of other issues extant in the file. The publication began with the attack on anti-treaty republicans in the Four Courts, and the publication focused on ways of conveying news of the changing situation to journalists, republican supporters and the general public. The first (un-numbered) edition was styled as a communiqué from Rory O’Connor, Major General, IRA. It read: ‘The boys are glorious, and will fight for their Republic to the end. How long will our misguided former comrades outside attack those who stand for Ireland alone?’ Reference is made in this first communiqué to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. who were ministering to the besieged republicans.
The file comprises the following issues of this weekly Anti-Treaty newspaper: 3 Jan. 1922 (Vol. 1, No. 1)-29 June 1922 (Vol. 1, No. 27). The series is complete with multiple copies of some issues. The issue of 15 Mar. 1922 (no. 12) is endorsed ‘Fr. Stanislaus [Kavanagh OFM Cap.] … Dun Laoghaire’.
A large collection of contemporary republican newspapers and Anti-Treaty publications. The sub-series includes extensive files of both 'Poblacht na hEireann (War News)' and the republican newssheet, 'The Daily Bulletin'.