A note from Diarmuid Lynch (1878-1950) describing his conditions in Richmond Barracks. He writes that he is enjoying himself with old friends and hopes to be free soon. Diarmuid Lynch was born in January 1878 to a substantial tenant farmer in Tracton parish, in South County Cork. At the age of 18 he emigrated for work, initially to London and thereafter to New York. In the USA he pursued his interests in Gaelic culture and the Irish language, coming under the influence of John Devoy, Diarmuid O' Donovan Rossa and other ardent Fenian disciples.Of great natural ability he was elected President of the New York Gaelic League and president of the Philo- Celtic Society. Diarmuid returned to live in Ireland in 1907, both were convinced that Ireland's freedom from British Rule must be worked for on home ground.From 1911 Lynch was a member of the Supreme Council of the IRB and one of that organisation's main recruiting officers. He was present at crucial meetings in Hardwicke Street on Holy Saturday night and at Liberty Hall on Easter Sunday morning when the Military Committee decided to go ahead with the planned Rising on the following morning. Lynch was present in the GPO for all of that week, being aide de camp to James Connolly. Following his court martial on May 18th he was condemned to be shot but his American citizenship was one factor in his sentence being commuted to 10 years hard labour.