1
Ack Irish Office
Miss Stevenson CARRICK-ON-SHANNON, COUNTY LEITRIM, 25th MAY, 1916. The Right
Honble. Lord George, We the Town Tenants of Carrick-on-Shannon, a small
town of originally 1000 inhabitants but, owing to the War
now only 850. This town has sent close on 300 Soldiers to
the colours, reservists, volunteers, &c. As you are aware
this causes a great depression in trade generally. This town
as like many othersis, is, in the hands of middle Landlords,
who are only too anxious to extort their Rack Rents from
Tenants that are suffering from the depression in trade
caused by the War. Their burden has been borne in silence
but owing to the causes mentioned, the local Landlords have
become unbearable not content with their rents being paid
when due, we are threatened with Writs for rent not due for
two months, as an instance of this we enclose you a specimen
received by one of our tenants. We would respectfully ask you to look into this
matter specially, we are confident that you will be able to
suggest some means to keep us over these oppressive war times. As an instance of
the loyalty we have, we may
mention that on the visit of the Military to our Town a few
weeks ago, only two arrests were made on suspicion, these
were liberated in a few minutes. James J Duignan
Timothy Murray
Secretaries H
For a report please
on this matter. W 1-6-16 To J. Carrick on Shannon
for report W N O'Connell
S.H. 2/6/16
2
JAMES A. KIERNAN, Solicitor DUBLIN OFFICE. 12. Dame Street Ballinamore Co.Leitrim
22nd May 1916 Mr. Lernard Bennett, Carrick. Walshe Estate Sir, Unless I receive
payment of rent due by you to the 1st May
last by return of post, my instructions are to issue Writs of
Summons forthwith for recovery thereof. All the other tenants
have paid their rents and I cannot allow you to go into arrear. Your obedient servant, Kiernan
A letter from James Joseph Duignan (b.1884) and Timothy Murray (1857-1923), secretaries
for Carrick-on-Shannon district, to George Ormsrby (1855-1938), lord lieutenant of
Leitrim. The letter concerns the town of Carrick-on-Shannon and the effect of the
war on its economy. It states that the population has dropped from 1,000 to 850 due
to recruitment for the war. The men state that the middle landlords are extorting
their tenants for rents that they are unable to pay due to the economic depression.
The tenants are being threatened with writs for rent that is not due for two months,
the letter refers to one which had been enclosed. The letter ends stating the area's
loyalty, citing the fact that only two arrests were made when the military arrived
in the town after the Easter Rising, both of whom where released within minutes. The
enclosure is written to a Mr Bernard Bennett and calls for his payment of rent, with
threat of summons.