Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to Alfred Byrne, MP, 13 October 1916 Letters 1916-1923

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This letter was written by Michael Staines, on the behalf of Irish prisoners in Frongoch, to Alfred Byrne. The letter lists a number of books in the Irish language, including a copy of the New Testament, which have been sent to prisoners but which haven't been given to them. It would appear that the books are held up by the censor and the writer suggests that there should be a censor with a good knowledge of Irish.Frongoch Internment Camp in Wales was a makeshift prison used for the internment of approximately 1,800 Irishmen in the wake of the Easter Rising, 1916. It was to become known as the 'University of Revolution' due to the influential effect it had on its inmates.The letter was signed by Michael Staines (1885 - 1955). Staines was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and served as Quartermaster in the GPO during the Easter Rising. After the Rising he was detained in Frongoch where he was elected Head Leader by his peers.The letter was addressed to Alfred Byrne (1882-1956). Byrne served as a member of parliament in the British House of Commons at the time of the Easter Rising. He would later serve as a TD in Dáil Éireann.

 Military Archives of Ireland Bureau of Military History Contemporary Documents, George Gavan Duffy Collection, BMH CD45/4/12 https://letters1916.ie/item/360 English 1916-10-13 Frongoch Internment Camp, Bala, Wales Alfred Byrne House of Commons, Westminster, London, England Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Irish Prisoners, Internment Camp, Frongoch, 13th Oct. 1916. Alfred Byrne, MP House of Commons, I enclose herewith a list of various Irish books which have been forwarded to the prisoners here and never received by them:- History of Ireland. by Geo.Keating, Forwarded by, P.J Flinn Esq. Alexander Park, Manchester, to:-192 J.O'Hanlon on 2nd July. Forwarded to:-1668 Owen O'Brien in July. One Irish GrammarThree Irish Text Books Forwarded to:- 1784 Thomas McGrave. Aesops Fables (in Irish) Forwarded by Miss O'Connell Main St.. Charciveen Irish Books (various) ) Forwarded by:- Miss O'Connell, Dominican Convent Dublin to:- 1379 Mortimor O'Connell in September. Two Irish Books. Forwarded from Belfast to:-1120 Martin Gleeson on 29th Sep. (these belonged to a parcel of six, five of which were delivered.) Forwarded to:- 1320 M.Collins on 6th Oct 'Notes of an Irish Exiles'. Forwarded by J.J.King Esq.45 St Patrick's Road, Drumcondra, Dublin to:- 362 W.J.Brennan Whitmore on 7.9.16. * New Testament (in Irish) ('An Tioma Nua') Taken from Brian O'Higgins on hisarrival here on 10th July, and sent to London for censoring. Never returned. I should feel very much obliged if you could see your way to make inquiries into the cause of the non-delivery of these books, as, of course, great inconvenience and annoyance have been given to the various addresses all of whom are earnest and dilligent celtic students. It is strange that with so many Irish scholars here, and such a quantity of Irish literature being forwarded to them that a censor with efficient knowledge of Irish should not have been appointed to the camp. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, etc., M. Staines Head Camp Leader. 7, 1916, *P.S.I desire to draw your earnest and early attention to the enclosed cutting taken from ________. This explanation of the non return of Brian O'Higgins copy of the 'New Testament' (in Irish) discloses a scandalous state of affairs connected with the censoring of the private property of the Irish prisoners. Frongoch Internment Camp, Bala, Wales Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to Laurence J. Ginnell, Esq., MP, 9 October 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to T. M. Healy Esq., KC, MP, 10 October 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to Alfred Byrne, MP, 13 October 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to William O'Brien, Esq., MP, 14 October 1916Letter to the Commandant, Prisoners of War, Frongoch, 25 October, 1916 House of Commons, Westminster, London, England Letters from Andrew Philip Magill to J. P. Farrell, 7 April 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to William O'Brien, Esq., MP, 11 October 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to Alfred Byrne, MP, 11 October 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to Alfred Byrne, MP, 13 October 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to William O'Brien, Esq., MP, 14 October 1916Letter from Laurence Ginnell, 9 December 1915 Alfred Byrne Letter from Alfred Byrne to Helena Molony and Nellie Gifford, 4 January 1916Letter from Andrew Philip Magill to Alfred Byrne, 1 April 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to Alfred Byrne, MP, 11 October 1916Letter from Irish Prisoners, Frongoch to Alfred Byrne, MP, 13 October 1916Telegram from Alfred Byrne to Mrs. Walter Harris Wilson, 23 May 1916Telegram from Alfred Byrne to Frank McNally, 12 July 1916Letter from Alfred Bryne to Augustine Birrell, 30 March 1916Letter from Alfred Byrne to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 15 May 1916Letter from Michael Staines to Alfred Byrne, 11 October 1916