The file comprises the following editions of this weekly Anti-Treaty newspaper: 9 Apr. 1922 (Vol. 1, No. 1)-2 July 1922 (Vol. 1, No. 13). Each edition featured political cartoons on the front page (some of which were drawn by Grace Plunkett).
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 series is incomplete but there are multiple copies of some editions extant in the file. Individual (loose) editions: 15 July 1922 (No. 2)-21 July 1922 (No. 6). 7 Aug. 1922 (No. 20)-14 Aug. 1922 (No. 26) 16 Aug. 1922 (No. 28)-26 Aug. 1922 (No. 37) 29 Aug. 1922 (No. 40) 31 Aug. 1922 (No. 43)-1 Sept. 1922 (No. 44) 23 Sept. 1922 (No. 63) 26 Sept. 1922 (No. 65)-29 Sept. 1922 (No. 68). 30 Sept. 1922 (No. 70)-7 Oct. 1922 (No. 76). 10 Oct. 1922 (No. 78)-11 Oct. 1922 (No. 79) 12 Oct. 1922 (No. 80)-17 Oct. 1922 (No. 84). Bound editions: 26 July 1922-5 Aug. 1922 (Nos. 10-19). 18 Aug. 1922-26 Aug. 1922 (Nos. 30-38). 29 Aug. 1922-7 Sept. 1922 (Nos. 40-49). 2 Sept. 1922-11 Sept. 1922 (Nos. 45-52). 8 Sept. 1922-19 Sept. 1922 (Nos. 50-59). 12 Sept. 1922-15 Sept. 1922 (Nos. 53-56). 16 Sept.-25 Sept. 1922 (Nos. 57-64). 20 Sept.-30 Sept. 1922 (Nos. 60-69). 30 Sept. 1922-6 Oct. 1922 (Nos. 70-79). 'The Fenian' was an Anti-Treaty newspaper providing the republican perspective on the course of Civil War hostilities. The paper warns that ‘insidious attempts have been made within the last few days by the English King’s Provisional Ministers to spread the rumour that a truce had been achieved. Under cover of this they hope to weaken the splendid morale of the republican troops and then attack them when off their guard’. The editions were bound together with a note indicating that they belonged to ‘Rev. Fr. Sebastian [O’Brien OFM Cap.], Church Street’.
The file comprises the following editions of this Anti-Treaty publication: 14 Aug. 1922 (No. 3)-7 Jan. 1923 (No. 35). Issue No. 20 is missing but there are multiple copies of some editions. The issue of 25 Aug. 1922 (No. 8) refers to the death of Michael Collins at Béal na mBláth. The issue of 25 Oct. 1922 (No. 18) is described as a ‘Terence MacSwiney memorial number’.
A copy of 'Freedom' (17 Sept. 1922). The cover has a portrait of Lawrence Ginnell (1852-1923), a veteran Irish nationalist and opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The sketched-portrait was drawn by Constance Markievicz.
'The Workers’ Republic, the official organ of the Communist Party of Ireland’, 19 May 1923 (New Series, No. 86). The newspaper carries a reprint of part of James Connolly’s pamphlet 'Erin’s Hope'.
