The final destination for the majority of irish prisoners was to be frongoch internment camp, north wales which opened to welcome irish rebels on 9 june 1916. Frongoch internment camp news newspapers books scholar. Following the 1916 easter rising 1,800 irish prisoners, including michael collins, were imprisoned in an old whisky distillery at frongoch near. He returned to ireland in 1916 and fought in the easter rising. The lecture will then cover the second the internment of german prisoners in 1917 and the setting up of labour camps across north and mid wales under the parent camp of. Some articles on internment camp, camp, internment, internment camps, camps, internments. Kilmainham gaol autograph books frongoch internment camp. He was subsequently imprisoned in the frongoch internment camp as a prisoner of war, but was released in december 1916. The frongoch autograph book contains 97 autographs, messages and sketches compiled at the frongoch internment camp during july 1916 by an anonymous internee. Find out more frongoch, wales a unique place in irish history. Jan 24, 2015 the lecture will then cover the second the internment of german prisoners in 1917 and the setting up of labour camps across north and mid wales under the parent camp of frongoch until the. The camp became known as ollscoil na reabhloide, the university of revolution. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the frongoch internment camp article. Irish history and language classes were quickly established and by august of 1916, the prisoners had access to french, spanish, latin, mathematics, shorthand and bookkeeping classes.
By the late 1800s, frongoch was the main centre for whisky production in wales. In the wake of the easter rising the british authorities had arrested nearly 3,000 people. Apr 27, 2016 the truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation dr devra davis duration. For eight months following the easter rising over 1,800 irish rebels were imprisoned in frongoch, a former whiskey distillery in north wales. South camp was made up of the distillery buildings themselves, while the north camp was composed of wooden huts. Jul 20, 2009 frongoch internment camp at frongoch in merionethshire, wales was a makeshift place of imprisonment during the first world war. Despite its shortcomings, this book is a valuable historical record of a pivotal moment in irish history. Frongoch internment camp by admin on february 10, 2016 in blaen following the 1916 easter rising 1,800 irish prisoners, including michael collins, were imprisoned in an old whisky distillery at frongoch near bala. The material culture of the period restores this history to tangible. After a month or more in dublin, cusack was deported to england and from there, to frongoch detention camp in bala, north wales. Frongoch camp, and the internment which gave rise to its occupation by irishmen, was very much a british own goal, just like the executions which followed the 1916 rising. This second book belonged to a man named paul cusack, who was first a prisoner at frongoch internment camp in wales in 1916 following the easter rising and then later at mountjoy prison in dublin in 1921 call number.
In the wake of the easter rising in ireland in 1916, when irish republicans, many of them members of the irish volunteer army, seized the. A ghostly station in frongoch, a tiny village in north wales, is the last evidence above ground of an internment camp where almost a century ago 1,800 irish men were held without trial, in the. J download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The british government wasted no time after the easter rising in arresting those they thought responsible, and sent many of the leaders and future revolutionaries to frongoch internment camp. History has, to a large extent, compacted the internment experience after the. This was the internment camp near bala in north wales into which irish prisoners were taken in the wake of the 1916 uprising. Family keepsakes such as autograph books from frongoch internment camp. Until 1916 it housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned distillery and crude huts, but in the wake of the 1916 easter rising in dublin, ireland, the german prisoners were moved and it was used as a place of internment for approximately 1,800 irish. List of prisoners names frongoch, wales a unique place. Until 1916 it housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned distillery and crude huts, but in the wake of the 1916 easter rising in dublin, ireland, the german prisoners were moved and. Dec 27, 2015 a ghostly station in frongoch, a tiny village in north wales, is the last evidence above ground of an internment camp where almost a century ago 1,800 irish men were held without trial, in the. And ill send for the frongoch book through interlibrary loan as i would like to read it. Click here to start a new topic please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes new to wikipedia. This autograph book, dating from 1921, contains entries by inmates at ballykinlar internment camp.
It lies close to the market town of bala, on the a4212 road in north wales. Until 1916 it housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Frongoch interment camp was situated in frongoch in merionethshire, wales. It was a makeshift place of imprisonment during world war 1. Prisoner of war camp at bala was used to house irish rebels. According to roll of the following irish prisoners of war were held at frongoch. W j brennanwhitmore a classic account, written by one of the inmates, of the welsh internment camp where the 1916 rebels were held that was first published in 1917. Essay on obasan internment camps transfer of values 1121 words. South camp was located in the old distillery buildings, whereas north camp was based in wooden huts a little higher up the hillside close to capel celyn. W j brennanwhitmore a classic account, first published in 1917, written by one of the inmates, of the welsh internment camp where the 1916 rebels were held. Michael collins and the making of a new ireland, which was first published in 1926 as two volumes, was written by piaras beaslai, a majorgeneral in the sinn fein army who was an intimate friend of michael collins and his senior in the inner councils of the most extreme section of the party. Camp life the first of the 1,800 men to be held at frongoch began arriving at the camp in june 1916, taken by train from prisons across england. Until 1916 the camp housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned distillery and crude huts, but in the wake of the 1916 easter.
Background to the collection history judicial process prisons prisoners. A very interesting book with yet another angle on the internment of irish prisoners in frongoch after the 1916 rising. And a more recent book calledfrongoch and the birth of the ira by lyn ebenezer. Joseph connell jr is the author of whos who in the dublin rising wordwell books. Welsh village summons ghosts of irelands revolutionary. A classic account, written by one of the inmates, of the welsh internment camp where the 1916 rebels were held that was first published in 1917.
How frongoch internment camp influenced the war of independence. Frongoch internment camp at frongoch in merionethshire, wales was a makeshift place of imprisonment during the first world war and the 1916 rising. He was assigned end page 21 to work in the kitchen. The camp became a fertile training ground for organising against the british rule of ireland. Kenneth spencer research library blog irish history. When i was a boy i read with the irish in frongoch by w j brennan whitmore 1917. In a letter home, michael collins commented on the cramped conditions. The distillery was bought by scottish whisky companies and closed in 1910 when they were attempting to establish brands in england.
W j brennanwhitmore a classic account, first published in 1917, written by one of the inmates, of the welsh. By december 1916 all the irish prisoners had been repatriated and the camp was closed down. This time its from one of the inmates and it gives a no holds barred view of the treatment meted out to many of the prisoners. Until 1916 the camp housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned distillery and crude huts, but in the wake of the 1916 easter rising in dublin, ireland, the german prisoners were moved and it was used as a place of internment for approximately 1,800 irish prisoners, among them such notables as michael collins. Irish history and language classes were quickly established and by august of 1916, the prisoners had access to french, spanish, latin, mathematics, shorthand and book keeping classes. This book details the tremendous ingenuity of the irish political prisoners in british internment camps during world war i. Until 1916 it housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned whisky distillery and crude huts, but in the wake of the 1916 easter rising in dublin, ireland, the german prisoners were moved and it was used as a place of internment for approximately 1,800 irish. With the irish in frongoch kindle edition by brennanwhitmore, w.
Siop awen meirion, 25 stryd fawr, y bala, gwynedd ll23 7ag, tel. It consisted of two parts north camp and south camp connected by a road. An account of the frongoch internment camp in north wales, where many irish prisoners were interred after the 1916 rising. Frongoch internment camp was located in a former whiskey distillery in. Located in county down in what is now northern ireland, ballykinlar was a britishrun camp that housed irish prisoners during the angloirish war, also known as the irish war of independence 19191921. It housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned distillery and crude huts up until 1916, but in the wake of the 1916 easter rising in dublin, ireland, the german prisoners were moved and it. Where he lists 1804 names of the irish who were interned at frongoch. The national museum of irelands easter week collection contains over 1,500 items of prison and camp art, craft and memorabilia, spanning events from the 1916 rising to the civil war. A selection of artefacts relating to the post1916 imprisonments and internments is currently on display in the exhibition proclaiming a republic. Hello robus, i wonder if you could help me with any information you may have about my grandfather william mulryan, of kiltulla also called kiltullagh near oranmore, galway. The allireland football match behind barbed wire, frongoch. Inside stories frongoch and ballykinlar pow camps an. Until 1916 it housed german prisoners of war in the disused distillery buildings and crude huts, but in the wake of the rising the german prisoners were moved and it was used as a place of internment for approximately 1,800 irish prisoners. History has, to a large extent, compacted the internment experience after the rising into republican preface the university of revolution, removing it from critical enquiry and counternarrative.
Letter from lillian casey, aged 20 or 21, to her brother hugh casey in frongoch internment camp. In addition, he has upcoming publications on frongoch internment camp, mountjoy hunger strike of 1917, cumann na mban, the scariff martyrs, the civil war in clare and an oral history exploring life story experiences amongst some of irelands oldest citizens. The 1916 rising is the pivotal yet highly contested moment in irish history when. Frongoch internment camp a unique place in irish history. Essay on obasan internment camps transfer of values. Frongoch indeed functioned for many as an internment camp society. Hugh was interned for taking part in the fighting at the gpo during the easter rising. The book frongoch university of revolution by sean o mahony also gives a. Kendenup, western australia history internment camp during world war ii the town was the site of an internment camp housing 200 italian prisoners of war. Frongoch internment camp, the original university of rebellion prisoners of war ballykinlar internment camp 19201921. Autograph book belonging to reading gaol and frongoch internment camp prisoner john j. Among them were michael collins, dick mulcahy, dick mckee, tomas mac curtain, terence macswiney all of whom were fierce separatists and republicans. And like the curragh camp at a later period, it was a university of revolution. This week marks the centenary of the release of the remaining 500 or so internees from frongoch internment camp.
Frongoch internment camp was located in a former whiskey distillery in merionethshire, wales. Journalist w j brennanwhitmores book, with the irish in frongoch, published in 1917, details that there were two parts to the camp. His father, james, was a founding member of the gaelic league. Typed statement of complaints concerning conditions in frongoch and aylesbury internment camps, 191617 request for information on irish postal history, especially as regards letters etc. During his internment in frongoch, joe stanley, who acted as pearses and connollys press officer, printing the irish war news from the gpo during the rising, kept notes of this unique football match and a report was published on it in july 1916 in his newspaper the gaelic athlete as well as other irish papers. Frongoch was a former distillery and german prisoner of war camp rapidly adapted after the easter rising to accommodate what britain considered to be the most dangerous of the rebels. Frongoch university of revolution internment camp 1916. Frongoch in merionethshire, a few miles from bala, was an unlikely place for nurturing irish revolutionaries. Following short periods of time in wakefield, wormwood scrubs and other british prisons, james was eventually sent to frongoch internment.
A couple of books that may be of interest for you on frongoch are sean omahonyfrongoch, university of freedom. The journey across england to frongoch was tedious but enjoyable for most of the men especially when they reached the countryside of wales, from which similarities to ireland were drawn. It lies close to the market town of bala, on the a4212 road in north wales by the late 1800s, frongoch was the main centre for whisky production in wales. Sep 29, 20 despite its shortcomings, this book is a valuable historical record of a pivotal moment in irish history. Peter murphy logo of 1916 centenery logo of boston college logo of the. Strange as it may seem, the site of a disused whisky distillery in a small, remote village in north wales has left an indelible mark on modern irish history. The frongoch prisoner of war camp north wales live. Some edge wear to dust jacket with tiny paper losses to corners. There he appears to have found an autograph book, which he and began to pass around to his fellow prisoners for signatures. Brennanwhitmores book is a unique document, one of the most. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading with the irish in frongoch. Michael collins and the making of a new ireland vol. He moved to london in 1906 and became a member of the london gaa, through which he became associated with the irish republican brotherhood and the gaelic league. Frongoch is the official welsh spelling of the name.
Welsh village summons ghosts of irelands revolutionary past. This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. It housed german prisoners of war in an abandoned distillery and crude huts up until 1916, but in the wake of the 1916 easter rising in dublin, ireland, the german prisoners were moved and it was used as a. A ghostly station in frongoch, a tiny village in north wales, is the last evidence above ground of an internment camp where almost a century ago 1,800 irish men were held without trial, in the wake of the 1916 easter rising in dublin.
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