Collection no. IE KAS Q005.

This collection of 86 carbon-copy type-written letters and statements details ill-treatment to individuals and damage to property by ‘Crown Forces’ during the War of Independence 1920-1921. The letters give a graphic picture of the hardships faced by families. They were written to the American Committee for Relief in Ireland (ACRI) in response to a request for details of losses suffered during the war. The letters are from recipients of relief in counties Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford.

Background

In January 1921, the American Committee for Relief in Ireland (ACRI) was set up to raise funds in America for the relief of distress arising from the War of Independence. Representatives of ACRI, led by Clemens J France (1877-1959) of Rhode Island, United States, made an inspection tour of Ireland in February and March 1921 visiting villages and towns that had suffered damage, mostly to private property. Simultaneously in the US, a national ACRI committee began an intensive fundraising campaign. It won support from the president, state governors, bishops, and other signatories. An organisation was established in each of the 48 states. Over 5 million dollars was raised. Recognising that the most efficient means of distributing relief was through an organisation based in Ireland, the monies raised were remitted to Ireland for distribution by the Irish White Cross (IWC), a nominally independent body set up under the management of the Quaker businessman, James Douglas, though largely funded by ACRI.

Whilst ACRI tried to remain non-political, concerns were expressed that it was exploited by the IWC which was dominated by individuals with links to Sinn Féin, including Michael Collins. British authorities at ambassadorial level made representations to the American government regarding political interference. As a possible result, in late 1921, ACRI’s policy of direct relief to individuals was abandoned in favour of support for Irish job creation, and the Irish White Cross was essentially wound down after 1922.

The documents are among the extensive collections of Kilkenny Archaeological Society’s Library and Archive. The ACRI collection was acquired by the KAS library in 1990 from Michael Buggy, Solicitors, Parliament Street, Kilkenny. A note in the file indicates it may have originated in the Buggy office at Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

The appeal issued by the ACRI Committee to the American public was printed on the front page of The Kilkenny Journal on 12 February 1921
PREMISES OF BUGGY SOLICITORS PARLIAMENT STREET Courtesy of Library, Kilkenny Archaeological Society
The American Committee for Relief in Ireland inspecting the ruins of Balbriggan
© National Library of Ireland on The Commons, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
Michael Buggy Letterhead

The documents can be examined in Kilkenny Archaeological Society’s library at Rothe House. Appointments may be made through the Honorary Librarian. Email: librariankas@gmail.com.

The project in 2021 involved scanning, digitising, and transcribing the letters. A searchable table was created to provide an overview of the content of the letters. This project was possible with the help of a grant provided by Kilkenny County Council and the Decade of Centenaries fund of the Dept of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, for which KAS is very grateful.

Kilkenny County Council logo

Each column in the table is sortable. You can open a scan of the original copy of the letter or a transcript by clicking on the links. A spreadsheet with more information about each letter is available for download here.

Further Reading

  • National Archives of Ireland, Irish White Cross: list of advances on security of compensation claims, 1922-1926, FIN/1/655.
  • National Library of Ireland, Senator James G Douglas papers 1898-c1979, MS 49,581.
  • Francis M Carroll, The American Committee for Relief in Ireland, 1920-22, Irish Historical Studies, vol 23, no 89, May 1982, pp 30-49
  • Edward J Law, The enterprises of the Sharkey sisters, Strokestown, and their persecution during the War of Independence, Local History Review, no 18, 2013, pp 92-99 (Courtesy of The Federation of Local History Societies).
  • Edward J Law, Harrassment and murder in the War of Independence: the Moran family’s business in Enniscorthy, Journal of the Wexford Historical Society, no 24, 2013, pp 13-20