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Two handwritten accounts relating to the background to the Easter Rising and the Tullamore Incident. The accounts were prepared by Aloysius O'Brennan for the 50 year commemorations in 1966. A further memoir on the events of Easter Week was written by Alo's [wife], Maura O'Brennan. Also includes a scrapbook of cuttings compiled in 1966 during the Jubilee commemorations of the 1916 Rising.

Box of in-letters from correspondents whose names begin with ‘A’ and ‘C’, including correspondence about Sir Nesbitt Armstrong’s trusts, and letters from James Callaghan (a thatcher employed by the Rosse estate), from the ‘Chief of Staff, January 1923’ about the occupation of Birr Castle by the Free State Army, from W. Y. Chisholm (manager of the Rosse sawmill [see Q/327]), from Miss Edith A. Cramer, [see M/18], from Messrs Coutts & Co., etc.

Includes: Letter from Padraig Ua Maolchatha, Col. Comdt., G. O. C. 3rd Southern Command, Roscrea: I am directed by the Chief of General Staff to inform you that it will not be possible to evacuate any portion of the premises occupied by the troops before Christmas. I am at present unable to give you any idea when we may be able to evacuate Birr Castle but assure you that we will not occupy it any longer than necessary. I regret being unable to facilitate Lord Rosse’s family in this matter but trust that the owner will appreciate the circumstances which force us to remain in occupation.’ (4 December 1922)

Includes letter from Capt. F. O’Brien for the Chief of General Staff, Dublin, to Toler Garvey: ‘I have been in communication with the General Officer Commanding of the Area who informs me that we was aware of game being shot on the Rosse Estate, but did not prevent it, as he was not aware that the game was preserved.’ (8 January 1923)

Nine memoranda from A & L Goodbody Solicitors Dublin re Belgian Relief fund.
Memorandae requests information as to how many refugees are in Banagher and details of monies being forwarded for the maintenance of the refugees.

File of correspondence between Banagher Parish Council, Offaly County Board of Health and Department of Local Government and Public Health, in relation to the installation of a sewerage scheme at Banagher and the provision of wartime employment.
Includes Ms list of 23rd January 1941 of persons prepared to connect with the water mains. With copy of Sanitary Sub-Officers Report.
Includes also ms resolution of Banagher parish Council stating that the sanitation in Banagher requires immediate attention.

Newspaper cuttings, some mounted on card, with corresponding catalogue numbers, which were placed on display during An Tóstal exhibitions in Tullamore in 1953 and 1954:

1. 'Geashill Cauldron Given to Nation', Midland Tribune, 4 April 1954
   2.'The Lays of Tullamore'
2. 'Tony Molloy Wrote for Nation's Youth'
3. 'Kilcormac's Famous Missal - a historic manuscript'. By 'P.F.' Offaly Independent, 16 August 1952
4. 'The Famed Blue Ball - an incident of the Land War.' By 'P.F.'
5. 'Offaly's Fighting Story' - a series of articles on the War of Independence and Civil War published in the Offaly Independent in March 1954, by 'P.F.' Includes photocopied duplicates of same. Articles include 'The Ambush at Raheen', 'Attempted Ambush at Blue Ball', 'Mount Lucas Ambush' and 'the Fight for Freedom'.
6. 'We Sail the River Shannon - St Ciarán of Clonmacnois' by H. J. Rice.
7. 'Offaly's Twelve Baronies' by 'P.F.'

Includes letters about Disestablishment, Poor Law reform, Orangeism, Conservative registration, Home Rule and the Irish Land question. Also includes letter from M. McCormack, CC, Kinnitty to Lord Rosse concerning agrarian dispute in Kinnitty parish between Francis Foley and Delaney at Newtown (3 March 1911).

File of diaries belonging to Theodora Trench.

From 1917 until 1919 Theodora volunteered as Chauffeuse with the Red Cross's Voluntary Aid Detachment. Throughout the early diaries she writes about her experiences resulting from this volunteer work and the responsibilities she was required to carry out. Examples of such entries include one she wrote on 18 January 1918 she writes 'Evacuation 4.45 am breakfast 4.15. Cleaned engine a little. 1.30 went to Richmond football match & Austin lunchtime.' Another example includes an entry from 12 January 1919 'On duty all day (night duty) inspection 11.30'.
Theodora also uses the diaries to record her her daily life. On 5 February 1921 she records attending a concert, 'Concert Albert Hall (Samson & Delilah)' and on 23 may 1922 she writes about going to the Chelsea Flower show 'S & I went to Chelsea Flower Show. Very hot & [humid] but beautiful flowers...'.

File of items Theodora Trench saved as souvenirs from her attendance at Maori reception to H.R.H the prince of Wales. The reception was held on 28 April 1920 in the Rotorua Jockey club, Rotorua, New Zealand. The file includes a programme and a ticket from the event; a passenger list from S.S Stella D'italia; itinerary from S.S Stella D'italia; dinner menu and concert programme from S.S Stella D'italia; unused luggage tags; R.M.S 'Tofua' Christmas dinner menu; letters to Benjamin Bloomfield Tranch regarding Thora's lost luggage and insuranc; R.M.S 'Tofua' map of saloon and second class passenger accommodation; Thora's passport; leaflets, maps,
and guide books relating to Australia, Samoa, Canada, New Zealand.

Also contains bundle of leaflets, maps, letters and programmes resulting from Theodora Trench's trip to Scotland; passenger list from S.S Bayono; a leaflet for Edinburgh International Music festival Motor Coach Tours 1847.

Also contains bundle of pamphlets and leaflets from the Gallipoli and Salonika pilgrimage from the 1928 cruise; a leaflet from the St Barnabas pilgrimage to Gallipoli and Salonica 1926; and the Order of Service at Capes Helles memorial to the missing [soldiers].

‘P’, ‘Q’, ‘R’ and ‘T’ - including letters from the Hon. Geoffrey L. Parsons, in Basingstoke, relating to the affairs of Birr Castle Demesne, during the period in which he acted on behalf of the sixth earl in his minority (1918-1924). Also includes letters from members of the Pigott family [see V/24], Mrs Manning Robertson, the 5th and 6th Earls of Rosse, J.H. Tyler (the Womersley agent [see H/117]), etc, etc.

Letters to the Viscountess de Vesci, mother of the sixth earl, to her brother-in-law, the Hon. Geoffrey L. Parsons, and to the agent for the Rosse estates, Toler R. Garvey Junior, (the only person permanently on the spot at Birr during the minority of the sixth earl), concerning the Civil War as it affected Birr Castle and other places; and also including a letter from the Countess of Bandon about the destruction of Castle Bernard, Co. Cork, and the kidnapping of her husband, Lord Bandon, 1921. The principal topic however, is the Free State government’s responsibility to the Rosse family for loss and damage incurred as a result of the Free State army’s occupation of Birr Castle from 1922 to 1924, which the shrewd and resourceful Garvey construes as extending to the cost of Lord and Lady de Vesci’s London house, No. 1 Hyde Park Street. Included in the bundle is a copy of a letter from Garvey to the Irish Land Commission arguing that compulsory acquisition of any more of the home farm at Birr would serve as a major disincentive to the sixth earl’s taking up residence and therefore giving widespread employment there on his coming-of-age, 1926.

Includes quotation for removal of six vans of furniture from Birr Castle to London by John Dooly, & Sons, Birr (April 1923)

Includes list of goods taken over by the National Army 28th September 1923, Property of the Trustees of the Earl of Rosse. Value of £235.16.0

Includes draft claim against Free State Government seeking rent and remedy £3000 and rent of Hyde Park (£600).

Includes letter from Office of Public Works settling claim for £3502.2.11 (7 August 1925)

Includes letter from Captain J.F. Hollins, Quartermaster No 2 Brigade, Athlon to Toler Garvey: ‘I wish to inform you that the Troops presently in occupation of the castle will evacuate same as from the 28th inst. In accordance with our regulations it will be necessary for a representative of the Owner, a representative from the Board of Works and of the Military Authorities to examine the premises after evacuation and compile a report as to its condition in comparison to that in which it was taken over by the Military (12 August 1924)

Includes a list by A. Panton Watkinson, painter and decorator, Stephens Green, Dublin, of wear and tear and damage in Birr Castle due to the military occupation. (July 1923)

Includes list of articles missing from Birr Castle May 1927.

Also includes letter from the Committee involved in arranging a plaque to be erected at the archway to the front of Birr Castle in memory of the three young men executed by Free State Troops in 1923. Appends text of the address given by Margaret Hogan, local historian, on the events of 1923. (2003)