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Post by Matt McNamara on Mar 27, 2011 23:03:01 GMT
Hi All The following documents were sent to me by a Áine Delahunt whose Father was interned in the “Rath Camp” Curragh, during 1921. His name was Sylvester Delahunt from Tuckmill, Straffan, Co Kildare and born in 1897. Sylvester was interned for a period of ten months during 1921. During that time he had in his possession a small autograph book in which other internees wrote poems, sketches, painted water colours and Sylvester also stuck some photographs of friends and loved ones in the book. All the poems and drawings are signed by the author and in most cases provides a home address which is handy for people researching their family history. It is truly a great piece of Curragh history and an important part of Irish history. Matt
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Post by Louis Parminter on Mar 28, 2011 6:16:49 GMT
Hi Matt,
I was fascinated to see the autograph book from the Rath Internment Camp and have really enjoyed looking through the snaps and pages. This is truly a great find that forms an important part in Ireland's political, social and military history which I was delighted to be able to read on our Curragh website. Hopefully this will encourage others to share items that may be hidden away in attics etc. Thank you for sharing this with us and to the donor who made this possible.
regards
Louis
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Post by andybrennan on Mar 28, 2011 6:56:27 GMT
Matt,
Indeed another piece of history for al to see, my thanks to the donor for sharing it.
Andy
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Post by joemurray on Mar 28, 2011 10:09:36 GMT
What a great find Sylvester Delahunt's little book.The hand writing of his friends is so readable.The drawings the photos a wonderful and important piece of history.Well done to that lady who sent it to Matt.
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Post by jjcurran on Mar 29, 2011 11:35:19 GMT
Hi all, It was an inspiring pleasure to read the poems etc from Sylvester Delahunt’s book. It is indeed a part of not only the history of the Curragh but of the whole country of Ireland. One can get a sense of the commitment and resolve of those who were willing to sacrifice everything for what they believed was a just cause. A big thank you to the lady who sent Matt this piece of history. With the passage of time ,perhaps the sensitivities of others may now have ‘gone off the boil’ and they could see their way to sending in similar items relating to the internees of the 1957 border campaign who were incarcerated in Tintown Interment camp. I well remember the famous escape from the Hospital as three IRA internees made their way through our vegetable plot much to the annoyance of my dad. I can almost hear the sound of the general alarm. Mea Culpa! I almost forgot about that famous event unique to Ireland known as 'The Emergency'. British and German airmen were interned in the Curragh 1939 -1945 and I'm sure they have some interesting memories which they might share with us. Regards JJ
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Post by johnnykelly on Mar 31, 2011 19:31:39 GMT
Re:Rath Camp-Curragh 1921-Sylvester Delahunt Hi all nice to see the collection of poems and sketches from those interned in the Rath Camp Curragh, and even though deprived of their liberty, still had a sense of humour and morale, My brother in laws Father in law was interned around the same time and some of the stories that he tells would make one sit and listen all day long,about morale highs and lows some of hardships and some lighter moments, but still to this day harbours resentment to the captors and prison guards some of whom were nasty people to put things lightly, and as JJ relates to the 1957 Internees and when they escaped across the Curragh plains i too can remember the wail of the general alarm sounding out from the watertower as our Fathers and brothers were out searching the woods and the furse around the Camp, and yes it would be nice to hear more stories of their time spent in the Camp, bye for now Johnny
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Post by nickey on May 10, 2011 22:02:34 GMT
Hi all I remember well the escape from the Internment Camp at Tintown and the follow up search. My sister was the first to hear the piercing wails of the general alarm and she turned off the radio and yelled at the rest of us to be quiet and then we could all hear it. Without uttering a word, my late father, who was at that time the BQ in Clarke Bks, grabbed his sam-brown and cap, nodded to my mother and disappeared out the front door closely followed by myself. Outside, there were soldiers running in all directions and at various stages of dress as the siren continued to wail. A short time later, soldiers in full battle dress began taking up positions at the entrance to every block of houses, where they challenged all who approached them. Nearly instantly, people began taking tea and sandwiches to the soldiers on sentry duty. Shortly after, I was summoned home by my mother. Nick Cunningham
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Post by Dermot Costello on Sept 27, 2011 20:43:35 GMT
Hi all, I'm a leaving certificate student intending to do my research report on internment in the Curragh camp during the civil war. I'm intending to use the diary of my great-granduncle which my grandmother keeps for a primary source, but i can't find any good books on the subject. I was wondering if there was any people would recommend ? Thanks
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Post by andybrennan on Sept 27, 2011 22:29:50 GMT
Dermot
You should look up E History for Kildare, Kildare Library provide this service.
You are hardly by chance related to Con Costello who wrote man articles re the history of the Curragh??
Andy
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Post by johnnykelly on Sept 28, 2011 9:22:23 GMT
Re:RATH CAMP-Curragh 1921 Hi Dermott if you go into Farells book shop in Newbridge, you may be able to purchase a book on this subject Written by James Durney. or they may be able to get a copy for you if not in stock.and as Andy said try the Kildare library service. for more and accurate information. bye for now Johnny
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Post by Willie MacManus on Jan 23, 2014 12:12:12 GMT
My father,Tom MacManus was the 1921 internee who drew the portrait of DeValera.
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Post by Cathal Concannon on Nov 9, 2014 14:55:43 GMT
Matt, Indeed another piece of history for al to see, my thanks to the donor for sharing it. Andy Hi Matt,congrats on a great Forum a great job done..now the picture you have 4th one down in the autograph book of 5 men behind a camp.. I think the man front left with the hat on in pic is my granfather. Peter Brennan from Tuam Co Galway ..do you have the names of these men. My grandfather Peter was held there in 1920 to 1921 around that time .My mother Myra , Peters daughter, has a autograph book from Peter's time there in Rath Camp ,and a man that signed Delahunt's book you have up in the forum a Frank Purcell sketched the pic of the Rath Camp escape has also signed an drawn pictures in Peters Autograph book ..also a good artist he was ...maybe Peter my grandfather.... he knew Mr Delehunt also if he knew Frank Purcell ..it would be great if we could find out if he did and if thats him in the picture ..will leave it with you Matt From Cathal
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Cathal's grandfather
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Post by Cathal's grandfather on Jun 8, 2015 21:39:35 GMT
Matt, Indeed another piece of history for al to see, my thanks to the donor for sharing it. Andy Hi Matt,congrats on a great Forum a great job done..now the picture you have 4th one down in the autograph book of 5 men behind a camp.. I think the man front left with the hat on in pic is my granfather. Peter Brennan from Tuam Co Galway ..do you have the names of these men. My grandfather Peter was held there in 1920 to 1921 around that time .My mother Myra , Peters daughter, has a autograph book from Peter's time there in Rath Camp ,and a man that signed Delahunt's book you have up in the forum a Frank Purcell sketched the pic of the Rath Camp escape has also signed an drawn pictures in Peters Autograph book ..also a good artist he was ...maybe Peter my grandfather.... he knew Mr Delehunt also if he knew Frank Purcell ..it would be great if we could find out if he did and if thats him in the picture ..will leave it with you Matt From Cathal
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Post by Matt McNamara on Jun 15, 2015 20:37:12 GMT
Hi Cathal
Thanks for you comments and additional information. I am afraid that I don’t have any information on the gentlemen in the photograph, but based on the other information you supplied, it is highly likely the it is your Grandfather in the photograph. If you can get your Grandfathers own book and contents scanned it would be nice to compare.
Thanks for getting in touch and providing some additional information the this vital price of Curragh History and more importantly Irish History.
Best Regards
Matt
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Post by Cathal Concannon on Nov 29, 2015 15:20:22 GMT
Hi Matt,congrats on a great Forum a great job done..now the picture you have 4th one down in the autograph book of 5 men behind a camp.. I think the man front left with the hat on in pic is my granfather. Peter Brennan from Tuam Co Galway ..do you have the names of these men. My grandfather Peter was held there in 1920 to 1921 around that time .My mother Myra , Peters daughter, has a autograph book from Peter's time there in Rath Camp ,and a man that signed Delahunt's book you have up in the forum a Frank Purcell sketched the pic of the Rath Camp escape has also signed an drawn pictures in Peters Autograph book ..also a good artist he was ...maybe Peter my grandfather.... he knew Mr Delehunt also if he knew Frank Purcell ..it would be great if we could find out if he did and if thats him in the picture ..will leave it with you Matt From Cathal
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