11 small bound diary volumes. 8 volumes spanning the years 1913-1916, 1919-1920 and 1929-1940 are written in manuscript hand by John Herman Rice [born John Hermenegild Rice], a barrister from Co. Tipperary and later (from 1925) District Justice at Carrick-on-Shannon, all with indexes written in manuscript hand at the end of each volume; 3 volumes spanning the years 1937, 1938 and 1939 are in a different hand and due to the subject matter and manner of writing are most probably written by his son, Edmond Rice. Entries deal with John Herman Rice's daily activities, family activities, family affairs, meetings, legal matters and financial worries, with frequent references to the national affairs of the day. In August 1913 he “attended great strike demonstration in Clontarf. Larkin arrested after dramatic scene at the Imperial Hotel, fierce baton charge”. The following day he records “stormy scenes in Cuffe Street”, and later, “Great Labour Demonstration in O’Connell Street”. In the entry for 4th October “Powerful speech by Larkin at the Castle” and in November records “Jim Larkin released. Dined at [King's] Inns, afterwards went to Liberty Hall: fireworks & huge procession through Dublin”. In 1916, there are daily entries about the 1916 Rising: “Saw its’ commencement…Volunteers seize Stephen’s Green, the railway stations & the General Post Office…Many deaths…Great excitement & extraordinary rumours. The frantic terror of the sour faces was really comical. What abject cowards!". On Tuesday he writes: “Heavy firing during the night. News arrives of risings in Cork, Galway, etc. The Volunteers seize the Banks & Newspapers….". Later on he reports on the destruction: “many old landmarks gone, GPO; Mooney’s; Imperial [Hotel]; Metropole [Hotel]; & Sealy Bryer’s Walkers [sic, Sealy, Bryers & Walker] (with 2800 of my books)”. He later received compensation for the loss. He mentions “De Valera’s great gallantry” and comments on the shootings after the surrender, “surely enough blood has been shed”. On 9 May 1916 he comments “Four more shot: the Government are setting dragon’s teeth with a vengeance”. The section of the diary covering the period 1923-1925 refers to meetings, letters and representations to his friends in ‘the Ministry’. He refers to being ‘let down’, commenting (on 13.2.23) “What wretched creatures I have been dealing with: they appear to have no regard for truth or honour”. The following day he comments “Very worried. Went to see Houlihan who speaks of seeing the President (presumably of the Executive Council?) if [Hugh] Kennedy fails to keep his undertaking”. In the entry for 17 August 1924 he writes: “What’s going to happen? The swift change from a feeling of security make it all the more appalling. I deserve this from the curs I helped put in power”. He writes the following, “eviction appears to be almost certain” but shortly afterwards he secured a temporary appointment in Longford and in Carrick-on-Shannon, at a salary of £1,000 per annum plus all expenses - he documents this, writing “At long last I have secured a position worthy of having been sought”.