Letter from Art Ó Briain to The Commandant, Frongoch Internment Camp 8 September 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from Art Ó Briain to The Commandant, Frongoch Internment Camp 8 September 1916

1 September 8th The Commandant,
Frongoch Internment Camp,
Nr. Bala.
North Wales Dear Sir I wrote to the Censor of the camp with regard
to what papers and books would be allowed to be sent
to the prisoners. As it would appear that they may
now be interned for some time my committee and the
committees of other funds wish to arrange to send them
supplies of periodicals, magazines and books and tech-
nical journals. In his reply the Censor informs me
that 'certain newspapers sent in bulk and sanctioned
by the Commandant are permitted'. I should be much
obliged if you would explain the term 'in bulk'. Does
it mean that a number of single copies of various
magazines and periodicals can be sent together? I
should also be obliged if you would inform me:- 1. If such periodicals and magazines as NEW
STATESMAN, NEW WITNESS, WEEKLY HERALD,
MUNSEY MAGAZINE, SCRIBNERS MAGAZINE,
HARPERS MAGAZINE, NASHS, PREMIER,
REVIEW OF REVIEWS and other such English
publications will be permitted. 2. Will all or any weekly and daily papers
published in Ireland be permitted? 3. Will magazines such as STUDIES, NEW
IRELAND REVIEW etc., published in Ireland
be permitted? 4. Will all books for educational purposes be
permitted? 5. Will all technical, trade and scientific 2
2. journals be permitted? 6. Can you give me any indication of what books in
the Irish Language will be permitted, or is this
entirely in the hands of the Bossar Censor? Thanking you in anticipation of an early reply. Yours faithfully,
For the Committee of the Irish National Relief Fund, Hon. Secretary. P.S. We sent this week a parcel containing several
books on mathematics, together with copies of English
magazines and periodicals and hope these have beeen
permitted.

This is an unsigned copy of a letter in a string of correspondence concerning the types of books or periodicals that will be permitted to the prisoners in the camp. The letter refers to correspondence with the censor and seeks clarification with regard to what supplies will be allowed. It also enquires about a parcel of books and periodicals sent to Frongoch the same week. From the Art Ó Briain Papers held in the National Library of Ireland. One of a collection of correspondence between Ó Briain as Honorary Secretary of the the London-based Irish National Relief Fund and the Prisoners of War Internment Camp in Frongoch, North Wales. NLI records indicate that MS 8434 /21 is a collection (33 items) of letters from and to the Frognoch prison authorities regarding what is allowed to pass between the prisoners and their visitors. Art Ó Briain (1872-1949) was Honorary Secretary of The Irish National Relief Fund which was set up to provide assistance to the dependents of those executed in 1916, those sentenced to prison and to the prisoners themselves. The Irish National Relief Fund was set up to provide assistance to the dependents of those executed in 1916, those sentenced to prison and to the prisoners themselves.

Open image in new tab

How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__3977.html)