Showing 35255 results

A poem by William Allingham titled ‘The Frightful Child of Ballyshannon’ and dated 1 October 1849. As noted in Allingham’s introduction, the poem refers to a story that a ghostly apparition (taking the form of a child) haunted Robert Stewart, better known as Lord Castlereagh (1769-1822), a leading Anglo-Irish statesman and politician, probably best remembered for his role in suppressing the 1798 Rebellion and in securing the passage of the Act of Union in 1800.

The verse recounts a local tradition that Stewart was visited by the spectre while inspecting a military barracks in Ballyshannon in County Donegal. Allingham suggests that Stewart was subject to an ‘unusual gloom and melancholy for a period after the spectral visit’. Stewart was known to be susceptible to paranoia and later severe mental health problems. It is likely that Allingham’s poem was also influenced by the fact that Stewart was a widely reviled figure in Ireland.

The last stanza of Allingham’s poem reads:

Then, through the Holy Island still
Were nests of goblins left, to fill
Each mouldy nook & corner close,
Like spiders in an ancient house:
And this one read within the face
Intruding on it’s dwelling-place,
Lines of woe, despair, & blood;
By Spirits only understood;
As mortals now can read the same
In the letters of his name
Who in that haunted chamber lay,
When we call him — Castlereagh.

A leaflet with the text of a poem written by Thoams Ashe while in Lewes Prison. Printed by Curtis, 12 Temple Lane, Dublin.

An Irish poem by Louise Imogen Guiney titled ‘Na Righthe’. The script is possibly a copy manuscript.

Máire Ní Shuibhne, ‘Poblacht na h-Éireann / The Republic of Ireland’ (Cork: Printed by Lee Print, [c.1932]).

'Poblacht na hEireann (War News)', No. 6, 2 July 1922.

'Poblacht na hEireann (War News)', No. 121, 22 Dec. 1922.

'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.

'Poblacht na hEireann (War News)', No. 2, 29 June 1922.