Republican autograph album compiled at Ballykinlar internment camp by Brian O'Kennedy,
[between ca. 1919 and 1921].
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| Summary: | Front endpaper of the autograph album has the inscription "Brian O'Cinneide, Bothan 24 Campa[...], Baile Coinnleora [Ballykinlar]". Many blank pages throughout but contains several comical gouache illustrations done in Ballykinlar internment camp in Dundrum, Co. Down in 1921 - p. 31 has six illustrations of wardens and commandants of the camp; p. 127 has a sketch of a stage set [signed by P. O'Byrne]; p.146 has a ink drawing dated 1921 by M. MacCongail [in the style of Harry Clarke and Séan Milloy] entitled "Erin's Glory" [it features two members of the Fianna looking at a rising sun]; there is also a loose sheet with the illustration [in pen and ink] of a man wearing a hat, smoking a pipe and reading a book with the inscription underneath "P. O'Byrne / With very sincere apologies / Ballykinlar 1921". |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Citation: | The National Library of Ireland. Department of Manuscripts. |
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| Notes: | Accompanied by several loose sheets of material relating to Brian [note correspondence here indicated he was sometimes also known as Bernard] O'Kennedy - one dated 2 June 1903 is a reference from his employers C. Thorp & Son, Solicitors & Land Agents, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow; one dated 22 February 1907 is a reference from his employers W.G. Bradley & Sons Solicitors, 11 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin [where he was "in charge of the Probate Department"]; one dated July 1918 is a reference from his employers The Mayfair & Hampstead Nursing Corps Ltd., Regimental Office Ladywell, East Heath Road, Hampstead, NW [where he held "the office of secretary of the company for ten years"]; a photocopy of a cutting referring to an article in "The New York Times" of 20 May 1921 refers to the fact that Kennedy, then secretary of the Irish Self-Determination League, was one of seventeen Sinn Féin members arrested in London of which five were sent to Ireland "where they will be interned [in Ballykinlar]"; a typescript copy of "The Rosary in Ballykinlar", a copy of the poem Kennedy wrote while he was in solitary confinement in Ballykinlar in July 1921; a printed certificate [designed by Micheal O'Riada in Ballykinlar in 1921] given to Kennedy by the Bord an Oideaghais [Education Board] based in camp 13 of Ballykinlar for his learning and spoken Irish [with the signature of his teacher Séan Mac Fionntaigh]; a letter on the headed paper of Oifig Príomh Thaoisigh na Slógh, An tOspidéal Rioghdha, Cill Mhaigheann [the Office of the Commanding Forces, The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham], counter stamped with the date 13 October 1924 by the "General Officer, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Commanding the Forces" addressed to 2nd Lieutenant Brian O'Kennedy "forwarding your commission appointing you an Officer in Óglaigh na hÉireann in the rank stated before your name" with the typed comment "I hope you will be spared many long and honourable years in the service of your country" and three letters dated 9 February 1929, two of which are signed by Major M. O'Riain, Officer in charge of Staff Duties - the first "is to certify that Lieutenant Brian Kennedy served in Óglaigh na hÉireann from 15th September 1922 to 12th January 1927, from which letter date the Executive Council having accepted his resignation of his Commission he ceased to be a member of the Forces"; Riain sends Kennedy another letter on the same date, wishing him "success in civil life" adding that he has "pleasant recollections of your willingness and capacity for work when we were together during some difficult months in 1922". Note that a certificate presented to Kennedy from Óglaigh na hÉireann in October 1924 which is signed in two places by Liam T. Mac Cosáir [W.T. Cosgrave] "Minister for Defence" and "Commander in Chief [of the Defence Forces]" is catalogued at NLI call number MS L 303. Brian O'Kennedy was the honorary secretary of the Gaelic League of London, acting general secretary of the Irish Self-Determination League and the editor "Irish Exile". He was in solitary confinement in Ballykinlar in July 1921. Note that the Art Ó Briain Papers - NLI Collection List 150 [MSS 2141, 2154-2157, 5105, 8417-61] contain related material, in particular related correspondence. Physical description: 1 folder (1 volume [146 pp.], ca. 10 loose sheets, some mss.). more |
| Arrangement: | Fonds |
| Call Number | View In | Collection |
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MS 42,139 |
Manuscripts Reading Room |
Manuscripts |
Reproduction rights owned by National Library of Ireland
