18/10/21 11:34
“Supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.”
Author and Historian Eoin Swithin Walsh explores two sources for the War of Independence, the Michael Collins Papers and Kilkenny Council Papers
Michael-Collins-Papers-and-Kilkenny-Council-Papers.mp3 (size 23 MB)
'In this podcast we delve into two sets of records in the archives to find some Kilkenny related stories. These sources are the Michael Collins papers, held by the Military Archives, and the records of the Kilkenny councils, held by the National Archives. These records give us a good oversight of what was going on around County Kilkenny in the day to day lives of people; the revolutionary years weren’t always dramatic, the mundane parts of life still went on! For instance, Michael Collins received information about every post office in Kilkenny, highlighting which ones could be ‘worked on’ in order to glean intelligence. We also see how Collins’ department were writing to the Kilkenny IRA looking for money that went missing, that was supposed to be sent to a bank in Thomastown. Collins also received a list of ‘enemy social institutions’ in Kilkenny which included the golf and tennis clubs! The Council records give us an insight into everyday life in Kilkenny in 1921. Everything from compensation for hay burning to public health are discussed in these files. Find out more in this podcast!'
Michael Collins
Castlecomer Rural District Council Notes on Enemy Social Institutions
Notes on Post Offices Thomastown District Council - Auxiliaries' Compensation Claims
