Limerick during the War of Independence

history_buff · 06-10-2005 1:36am #1

Hi all, I'm new to the board here

I've actually applied for permission to start a PhD on the War of Independence/Civil War period in Limerick, and I was wondering if anyone here could help me with local sources (i.e. locating diaries, IRA unit roll books etc).

Any takers? I'm aware of all the sources I can use in Dublin and Britain. As a preliminary step, I'm keen to get hold of details of the brigade/battalion/company structure in Limerick during the WoI. I've looked in "Limerick's Fighting Story", and Mossie Harnett's book of memoirs, but there's nothing specific.

billy the squid · 06-10-2005 1:41am

Theres a bloke named Tony Browne who presents a history program on radio station Radio Limerick One (105.2) on Sunday nights between 11pm and 1am. Give him a shout and he should be able to either give you relevent info or recommend some reading.

welcome to the board btw

history_buff · 06-10-2005 1:54am

Cheers that's a great help! Do you know where I'd get an e-mail address for him?

Only hope I get the go-ahead for it now...

billy the squid · 06-10-2005 1:56am

another good place to look is through the archives of the Limerick Leader on O'Connell Street. I dont know if they charge to see their archives that far back though.

billy the squid · 06-10-2005 5:30am

history_buff wrote:

Cheers that's a great help! Do you know where I'd get an e-mail address for him?

Only hope I get the go-ahead for it now...

dont know about email address but their website is in the links sticky at the top of the board.

limerick_man · 06-10-2005 11:06am

Well I know the leader goes back to th 1950's ... so they might!

billy the squid · 06-10-2005 2:51pm

The Limerick Leader was started in 1889, I have the copy of the first edition here from the 100 centenery issue that came out in 1989.

limerick_man · 06-10-2005 3:15pm

I know that, my great grandfather was the one who set it up, my family has owned that paper up until about 3 yrs ago! But the archives ... i dont think they go all the way back!

1huge1 · 06-10-2005 4:03pm

seeing as how you live in the midlands i doubt you will be able to get that radio station but im sure they have a website so try google

zachler · 06-10-2005 5:39pm

Somebody's going to be spending a lot of time in front of the microfilm machine!
Mary I has a really good archive of Limerick papers, including many that don't exist anymore. You'll have to do a fair bit of work on the Limerick Soviet.

The Leonard Collection in UL's Special Collections has to easily be the best source of anything written about Limerick. That priest in unbeleivable.

I'm sure I'm probably not telling you anything you don't know. There must be plenty of museums & places out in the county that have records. Most of the fighting was out in the county anyway.

history_buff · 06-10-2005 5:53pm

Thanks for your help folks - yeah, I plan to get old in front of a microfilm machine

As I said, what I'm really keen on finding are I.R.A. unit roll books or diaries of local commanders (especially Donnchadha O'Hannigan, Liam Manahan or others) - I know I'll probably find some of these in the Military Archives, but if I can avoid it...

billy the squid · 06-10-2005 9:27pm

1huge1 wrote:

seeing as how you live in the midlands i doubt you will be able to get that radio station but im sure they have a website so try google

they have a webstream.

moshpit77 · 07-10-2005 12:34am

limerick_man wrote:

Well I know the leader goes back to th 1950's ... so they might!

that'd be a great help, seeing as the civil war was in the 20's

zachler · 07-10-2005 1:39am

moshpit77 wrote:

that'd be a great help, seeing as the civil war was in the 20's

Ah, sure, that kid is so young he can't even remember the civil war in Yugoslavia.

billy the squid · 07-10-2005 2:02am

moshpit77 wrote:

that'd be a great help, seeing as the civil war was in the 20's

might I point out that it was me that suggested the limerick leader, and llimerick man was pointing out that he believed that it would be of little use as the archives only go back to the 1950s.

3 day bans for your self and zachler for trying to be smartarses. you should know the rules by now on comments in threads started by people looking for assistance.

@limerick_man

evidence that the leader archives go back before the 1950s 1939 to be exact, and here is an article referring to a Limerick Chronical edition printed in 1839

The Liemrick Leader and Limerick Chronicle were once separate companies untill the former acquired the Latter.

1huge1 · 07-10-2005 9:22pm

billy the squid wrote:

they have a webstream.

never thought of that lol

billy the squid · 07-10-2005 9:53pm

You can also add the "Limerick - A Stroll Through Memory Lane" series of books published b y the Liemrick Chronicle to the list as there is some civil war stuff there including pictures of a sandbagged O'Connel Street. Was just looking at Volume 1 here and came accross it.

limerick_man · 08-10-2005 10:27am

Umm.. "Well I know the leader goes back to th 1950's ... so they might!", I was saying I'm am positive they go back to the 1950's, so they might go far enough back to cover the 20's!

Ahh, I feel lousy now! :P

moshpit77 · 09-10-2005 9:02pm

Yeah, sorry limerick_man if you thought I was overboard, I was just pointing out that I thought you were making a mistake saying the civil war was in the 50's, you've clarified that and now I get what you were saying.

However I don't think that it warranted me being ridiculed and called a smartarse without being allowed to explain myself by somebody who's supposed to be 'upholder of all that is just' in this forum, so I won't be contributing here anymore

And apologies to history_buff that this post was overtaken by people squabbling!

radioman · 09-10-2005 9:34pm

billy the squid wrote:

they have a webstream.

No they dontt! That finished years ago!!! Their website dosent even work any more

billy the squid · 09-10-2005 9:38pm

they do actually. their website http://www.radiolimerickone.tk uses the same webstream software as that station in kilaloe uses, destiny media player.

bluedolphin · 09-10-2005 10:19pm

i did a fair bit into the Limerick Soviet, 1919 a while back and got most of my info from Limerick City library - they have quite a good local collection. Also, UL and Mary I would be worth a visit. Afaik, Limerick Leader archives don't go back that far, I can vaguely remember trying to access them but couldn't manage it - but maybe try anyway. Best of Luck!

history_buff · 10-10-2005 9:29pm

Thanks folks. I'd love to find any families who might have diaries, but I don't know where to look!

Amazotheamazing · 10-10-2005 11:30pm

Write in to the Limerick leader asking readers if they've any sources, do likewise with the 3 national papers, particularly the examiner since it's munster based.

The Lopper · 11-10-2005 8:14pm

There is always the Granary as well, there is an amazing amount of old files books in there.

nansport · 12-10-2005 11:20am

history buff, where do you want study? i think someone is already doing a PhD on your area of interest

history_buff · 13-10-2005 8:00pm

nansport wrote:

history buff, where do you want study? i think someone is already doing a PhD on your area of interest

On my specific topic?

It's somewhat unfair to register, say this and run off without providing proof.

billy the squid · 13-10-2005 10:01pm

I wouldn't worry too much about that last post history buff. unless only one person is allowed to do a Ph.D on a certain subject. which I doubt.

history_buff · 13-10-2005 10:17pm

billy the squid wrote:

I wouldn't worry too much about that last post history buff. unless only one person is allowed to do a Ph.D on a certain subject. which I doubt.

Actually it sounds like someone who wants to the do a Ph.D on the subject, and wants to put me off

I don't know how I'd find out if someone else was doing it, anyway.

nansport · 14-10-2005 9:39am

history buff,
there is a student in UL working on the topic. Also, there is a local historian who is planning to puiblish a book on Limerick in the 1913-39 period next year. I hope this helps you.

history_buff · 14-10-2005 10:44am

nansport wrote:

I hope this helps you.

Is that supposed to be funny?

I'm not worried about the 1913-39 book, and I will check out the other thing.

billy the squid · 14-10-2005 11:36am

i have no idea why you wuold have issues with someone else doing the same subject as you. After all everyon's angle on it would be different i would imagine.

nansport · 14-10-2005 12:46pm

it was not meant to be funny and i am sorry if it appeared that way. you wrote that you did not know how to find out if the topic was being researched and i thought that this was relevant information

history_buff · 14-10-2005 2:43pm

I didn't ask if it was being researched, I asked about sources. Don't worry, I'm checking up on your claims

billy the squid · 14-10-2005 2:47pm

i do not think there was any malice in his post, history buff.

but if ye want to make this into a row then do it elswhere. now shake hands and be friends or i will lock this.

history_buff · 14-10-2005 8:20pm

I'm not after a row

With the amount of revisionist rot out nowadays concerning the War of Independence, I just think I'll keep my head down and continue as I am.

John P Collins · 15-11-2012 11:07pm

There a copy of most issues of The Limerick Leader going back to about 1904 on line in the National Libray in Dublin and they may also be available in the County Library, but I am not sure of that.