'Poor Old Depot'

352. 'Fred Barry'
353. [Untitled. Photograph of doorway into the burnt out remains of Birr Barracks]
354. [Untitled. Distant view of burnt out remains of Birr Barracks]
355. [Untitled. View of burnt out remains of Birr Barracks from internal barrack square.]

Verse by Michael Keating, Dublin:

'When this you see
Remember me
sawing wood

All fates defying
Seriously trying
To escape if I could'

Verse by Pádraig Ó Treasaigh (Laois):

'We meet again, the master and the student
The one a sadder but a wiser man, the other still imprudent
But age and youth, have one same thought
That Erin's soul shall ne'er be bought.
Soon may her Freedom's star arise
And soon may be her foe's demise.
Then you and I from fetters free
Shall haste to Leix and Offaly.
But we together shall come again
As free, unfettered, unshackled men.
And then we'll fill and quaff the glass
That ours and Erin's dawn has come at last.'

Verse transcribed by Internee 1537, D Company, Hut 31, Patrick J. Daly (Tullamore, Offaly):

'Lloyd George no doubt when his life ebbs out
Will ride in a fiery chariot
He will sit in state on a red hot plate
'Twixt the Devil and Judas Iscariot
Annanias that day to the Devil will say
My Presidency here has failed
So move up higher
Away from the fire
And make room for the liar from Wales.'

Quote by Sir Walter Scott transcribed by Kieran Temple, Hut 28:

'Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who ne'er to himself has said
This is my own; my native land'

Verse transcribed by Jimmie Egan, Hut 25 ,of Henry Street, Tullamore:

'Where ever England's forces assemble
on land on sea or in air
We pray thee Oh Lord God of Battle
to send all thy thunderbolts there
Wherever her plotters are plotting
Wherever her fortresses frown
With thy vengeance as vivid as lightening
Strike her down Oh Lord God!
Strike her down.'

Signature of Alisdair MacCába.

Note by Edward Dunne (Clonaslee, Laois), Tintown No 2 Camp:

'Give real champagne
to your best friends
Give real pain to your sham friends
Just a few from a bashful poet.'

Quote from Terence MacSwiney transcribed by Joe Harrington, Internee 3544, Tintown Camp No 3:

'No physical victory can compensate for spiritual surrender'