Letters to the American Committee for Relief in Ireland, 1921-22, IE KAS Q005

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.

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