Letter from Joseph Dowdall to Augustine Birrell, 18 April 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Joseph Dowdall

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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This letter was written by Joseph Dowdall (b.1865), an electrician living in Dublin city. The letter was addressed to Augustine Birrell. In the letter Dowdall claims that he is being followed by two German spies. He reports that both are 'aliens' but refuse to acknowledge their nationality. He believes the to men are reporting back to the German government in Dublin, London and the Continent. Dowdall writes that he will be willing to make a full statement about the men should Birrell consider it prudent to investigate.Birrell (1850-1933) served as the chief secretary of Ireland from 1907 to 1916. Birrell was a liberal politician praised for his reforms of the Irish education system. The Easter Rising caught him unawares and, occupied in London, there was little he could do. A later inquiry into the Rising held Birrell chiefly responsible for the events that occurred leading to his resignation on 1 May 1916.

 National Archives of Ireland Chief Secretary's Office Registered Papers, CSO RP/1916/8036/3 https://letters1916.ie/item/265 English Joseph Dowdall 1916-04-18 18 Terrace Place, Buckingham Street, Dublin, Ireland. Augustine Birrell Male World War I (1914-1918) Industry and Public Administration

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 Under SecretarySMP20/4/16 Ch. will you see Mr. Dowdall if you ascertain that he is a reliable person. 21/4 Supt. G. dimWam 2/5/16 18 Terrace Place Buckingham St Dublin 18/4/16 To The Right honourable Mr. Birrell. Sir I deem it my duty as an Irishman and a supporter of his majesties Government, to communicate to you the fact, that for over 12 months past I have under observation in this City two men whom not only do I believe are German Spies but that they are in constant touch between with the German Government in Dublin, London & The Continent. Both these men are aliens, but neither admitt their true nationality, one is aged about 26 years the other about 30 years one at least is in Dublin since his boyhood. I refrain from giving further details for the present lest this letter might not reach you. But I am prepared to make a full statement of all I know should you deem it prudent to make an appointment in Dublin or elsewhere. I am an Electrical Engineer and am personally know by The Right Honourable The Recorder of Dublin and Mr J Mulhall vice President Prisons Board in Ireland. I beg to remain Sir yours most respectfully Joseph Dowdall Augustine Birrell Letter from Brother Vincent O'Kelly to the Chief Secretary, 3 April 1916Letter from Patrick Joseph Brady to Augustine Birrell, 27 Mar 1916Letter from Thomas Gerrard to Augustine Birrell, 29 March 1916Letter from James P. Farrell et al. to Augustine Birrell, 7 April 1916A letter from Francis E. Meehan to Augustine Birrell, 3 April 1916Letter from James Patrick Farrell to Augustine Birrell, 27 March 1916Letter from Edmund Loftus Wickham to Augustine Birrell, 1 May 1916Letter from Margaret May Loughren to Augustine Birrell, 26 March 1916Letter from Hugh O'Brien Moran to Augustine Birrell, 4 May 1916Letter from Lord Hugh Gough to Augustine Birrell, 28 April 1916Letter from Joseph Dowdall to Augustine Birrell, 18 April 1916Letter from William Field to Augustine Birrell, 14 April 1916Letter from J. G. Swift MacNeill to Augustine Birrell, 17 April 1916Letter from William Johnson to the chief secretary, 14 April 1916Letter from Miss Helen Augusta Crofton to Augustine Birrell, 3 May 1916Letter from A. J. Loughborough Ball to Augustine Birrell, 1 May 1916Letter from Mr MJ Murphy to Mr Augustine Birrell, chief secretary for Ireland, 10 November 1916Letter from James Neazor to Augustine Birrell, 6 January 1916Letter from William O'Brien to Augustine Birrell, 26 February 1916Letter from Scott Alexander to Augustine Birrell, 3 March 1916Letter from John Clear to Augustine Birrell, 23 February 1916Letter from Thomas O'Donnell to Augustine Birrell, 9 April 1916Letter from P. Burrowes Shiel to Augustine Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, 27 March 1916.Letter from William Field to Augustine Birrell, 29 March 1916Letter from Alfred Bryne to Augustine Birrell, 30 March 1916Letter from Edward W. Mooney to Augustine Birrell, 4 April 1916Letter from Augustine Birrell to Edward W. Mooney, 5 April 1916Letter from Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde to Augustine Birrell, 7 April 1916Letter from William Howell Davies to Augustine Birrell, 10 April 1916Letter from Jonathan Pim to Augustine Birrell, 29 March 1916Letter from Sir Bertram Windle to Augustine Birrell, 30 March 1916.Letter from Cecil Harmsworth to Augustine Birrell, 31 March 1916Letter from Jeannie Horner to Augustine Birrell, 4 April 1916Letter from William Seddall to Augustine Birrell, 14 April 1916Letter from Thomas Francis Smyth to Augustine Birrell, 27 March 1916Letter from A. Ross to Augustine Birrell, 30 April 1916Letter from Richard Creighton to Augustine Birrell, 25 April 1916Letter from Joseph Michael Stanley, 29 March 1916Letter from W. A. Tait to the Chief Secretary for Ireland, 13 April 1916Letter from A. Stanford to Augustine Birrell, 1 May 1916Letter from Edmund Blayney Clarke to Augustine Birrell, 29 May 1916Letter from Edmund Blayney Clarke to Augustine Birrell, 23 May 1916Letter from William O'Brien to Augustine Birrell, 26 February 1916Letter from Henry T. Gallagher to Augustine Birrell, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, 29 March 1916 Joseph Dowdall Letter from Joseph Dowdall to Augustine Birrell, 18 April 1916 18 Terrace Place, Buckingham Street, Dublin, Ireland. Letter from Joseph Dowdall to Augustine Birrell, 18 April 1916