1
K
As H. M. L. for the County of Galway, will you assist me
in this effort, by joining a small Committee representative of loyal Ireland
to collect and manage such a Fund? Will you raise subscriptions in your
County and will you kindly supplement this £100 by some substantial sum which
may persuade others to follow your example? Lord Iveagh has been good enough
to send me a cheque for £100. Yours sincerely
Meath
2
Sep 16 1916 L: Meath
R I.C. & Police
Fund
The letter is from Reginald Brabazon (1841–1929) to Luke Gerald Dillon. Brabazon requests
Clonbrock to form a committee representing 'loyal Ireland' (those in Ireland loyal
to the British Crown) to oversee the 'R.I.C. and Police Fund' in Galway and to contribute
personally to the fund an amount that would encourage others to do likewise.Luke Gerald
Dillon, the 4th Baron Clonbrock, Co. Galway, is the husband of Lady Clonbrock who
was a member of the Irish Women’s Association and heavily involved in assisting Irish
soldiers during World War I. Brabazon , 12th earl of Meath, was a committed unionist
and leading member of the Irish Land Conference. He sat in the house of lords as Baron
Chaworth. The Irish Police & Constabulary Recognition Fund was founded by Meath
to recognise the work of the police during the Easter Rising. It presented certificates,
war bonds and awards to policemen who were in active service in the Royal Irish Constabulary
or Dublin Metropolitan Police during the Rising and compensation to the widows and
dependants of those killed or injured.