Beschreibung:

Manuscript Organizing The Irish Volunteers Terence MacSwiney's Volunteer Diary 1915 Manuscript: A highly important manuscript diary or notebook recording MacSwiney's daily activities as a Volunteer organiser in Co. Cork, September-December 1915, in a small Eason's card-covered pocket-book circa 6 1/2 ins x 4 ins [165 x 102 mm], 72 pp, stitched, contained in a specially made folding cloth case. There is no signature, but the handwriting is undoubtedly MacSwiney's. The writing is rapid and not always easy to make out, but it can be followed with patience. MacSwiney was a joint founder of the Irish Volunteers in Cork, and became a full-time organiser in 1915. The notebook begins with a page headed 'Report week ending Oct. 2nd 1915', endorsed 'My own notes - not the official report'. Presumably these personal notes provided the basis for his official reports to the Volunteer executive. The diary begins on Sunday Sept. 26 [1915]. 'By arrangement a few of us cycled to Crookstown and Bealnablath to meet men of district. I had got a letter from J. Murphy of Lissarda [to] tell us of a gathering at Bealnablath, suggesting some of us should go out to give friendly advice on the quiet in preparation for larger meeting later on. I got Jennings, Barrett, Collery & Neilson I think is his name, a northern - to come along .. We [had] an informal chat with some of the local men, who all seemed interested .. they will let us know how things progress. We may hold a rally there on 24th - date not fixed yet .. On Monday Sep. 27, 'I stayed over for battalion branch meeting. We made some arrangements for future work. T.macC. [Tomas MacCurtain] is putting on some pressure all round - as things were getting slack & it may make for good results .. On Tuesday 28th, 'I cycled to Ballinadee en route to Dunmanway. I called to Stokes', Tom away. I spoke to Wm. They are going on well. I hope for good things in this quarter. I spoke to Wm. of the Coy. coming up to Bealnablath for a big concentration & he was eager about it. If this comes off it will be a great event.' On Saturday Oct. 2, 'I went to see Tomas Mac C[urtain] - had a considerable talk about many things - my projected withdrawal from Cork to another county. He was writing to B.H. [Hobson?] very strongly about matter to press my staying here for the present. I explained to him the need for organising other places - while agreeing with him that it was too soon to withdraw me from Cork .. I spent a great part of the evening putting my own papers in order in view of any possible trouble. For I've had a renewal of police intrusion .. There was a policeman at crossroads when I was on way off to B'geary. I had a couple of them on the road at Ballingeary when I arrived. The morning - Friday - when I was preparing to leave a policeman came in with a cock-and-bull story about a lost coat! - after me, of course. Well, I'll put my house in order ..'. The diary continues with daily entries through October, November and December, detailing journeys, discussions, meetings, parades, police encounters and other developments, naming many of those he met and outlining their views, giving a superbly detailed account of the progress of the Volunteers through Cork city and county in the crucial period when they were in direct competition with British Army and Redmondite recruiting for the allegiance of the people. As a manuscript, w.a.f. Terence MacSwiney [1879-1920] was one of a small group of Cork nationalists who formed a Celtic Literary Society in 1899. He did not approve of secret societies and refused to join the IRB, but in December 1913 he joined the Irish Volunteers. After the outbreak of the European war he set up his own weekly paper to oppose British Army recruitment and to promote the Volunteers, selling his library of books to finance it. In 1915 he became a full-time Volunteer organiser in the Munster area. In 1916 the confusion over MacNeill's countermanding order frustrated MacSwiney's plans for a risi