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life in frongach
Have a look through the prison journal of an Easter Rising volunteer
Patrick Brennan’s journal will be on display in Clare Museum.
THE JOURNAL OF former IRA volunteer and TD Patrick Brennan of his time in the Frongach prisoner of war camp is to be put on display at Clare Museum.
Brennan was imprisoned in the North Wales camp along with an estimated 1,800 other Irish participants of Easter Rising between June and December 1916.
Other interned volunteers of the camp include Michael Collins and IRA commander Richard Mulcahy, both of whom autographed Brennan’s journal.
The journal contains poetry in both Irish and English as well drawings of the camp and the men interned there.
“It is beautifully illustrated in parts with water colour drawings of the camp, poetry in Irish and English, and numerous signatures of note,” according to Clare County Librarian Helen Walsh.
It also contains an artwork by Cathal Mac Dubhgall featuring the words “Fianna Fáil”, which was an alternative Irish language translation for the title of the rebel Irish Volunteers.
Brennan himself is a significant figure in War of Independence having led a 1917 armed campaign in Clare that ultimately led to the Mountjoy Hunger Strike of September 1917.
After involvement in a number of actions during the revolutionary period, Brennan became an important figure in the Anglo-Irish treaty and was later elected as a TD for East Clare.
“As a native of Sixmilebridge in East Clare, I have long known about the contribution of Patrick Brennan from nearby Meelick,” said John Crowe, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council.
“I warmly welcome the acquisition of this book which serves as a timely and poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Irish men and women for their country.”
The journal and autograph book was bough at auction by Clare Museum for €5,000 last week.
It’s planned that the book will be put on display before Christmas and there are also plans to digitise it so it will be available to view online.
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