From the collections of Cork City and County Archives Service.
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IDENTITY STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................. 2 CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................................. 2 Creator ................................................................................................................................................ 2 Biographical/Administrative History................................................................................................... 2 Archival History ................................................................................................................................... 2 CONTENT AND STRUCTURE .................................................................................................................... 2 Scope and Content.............................................................................................................................. 2 CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE.......................................................................................................... 3 Conditions Governing Access.............................................................................................................. 3 Language ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Physical /Technical Requirements ...................................................................................................... 3 Finding Aids ......................................................................................................................................... 3 ALLIED MATERIALS .................................................................................................................................. 3 Related Units of Description ............................................................................................................... 3 RULES /CONVENTIONS USED .................................................................................................................. 4 ARCHIVIST’S NOTE .................................................................................................................................. 4 ITEM DESCRIPTIONS................................................................................................................................ 5
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IDENTITY STATEMENT Reference: IE CCCA/PR69
Title:
Andy O'Sullivan
Level of description:
fonds
Date:
(?1922) 9 August 1923 - 2 Nov 1923 (1925)
Extent:
15 items
CONTEXT Creator
O'Sullivan, Andrew (Andy) | d1923| Intelligence Officer IRA North Cork
Biographical/Administrative History Born Denbawn, Denn, County Cavan ?1900. Agricultural instructor for the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Mallow county Cork. Leading intelligence officer and later Commandant for the Irish Volunteers/Irish Republican Army in the Mallow area [5th Battalion, 4th Cork Brigade). Took part in raid on Mallow barracks in 1921 with Dick Willis and Michael Fitzgerald. Established a personal relationship with Miss Catherine 'Kit' Byrne, 110 Main Street, Mallow, who was a liasion officer of Cumann na mBan, together with OP Daly. Fought on the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War, reporting directly to Liam Lynch. Arrested in July 1923 and imprisoned first at the Courthouse Cells (Washington Street) Cork in early-mid August 1923, then at the Female Prison, Sunday's Well, Cork (the 'City Gaol') at the end of August 1923, and lastly at Mountjoy Gaol, Dublin from September to November 1923. Embarked on hunger strike with thousands of other republican prisoners. Died after 40 days on hunger strike in Mountjoy on 22 November 1923. The republican hunger strikes were called off on 23 Nov 1923. His funeral in Mallow was very largely attended and his remains were interred at the New Cemetery, Sandfield, Mallow.
Archival History Donated to the Archives by Mr. James Byrne in 2017.
CONTENT AND STRUCTURE
Scope and Content Andy O'Sullivan personal archive, mainly MS. letters to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne, Mallow, County Cork from August - November 1923.
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The letters are reasonably detailed, and full of intelligent, light-hearted, humorous, and serious observations on various matters including the state of his imprisonment and events in the gaol, politics, local events, the hunger strike by republican prisoners. (See item descriptions for full details).
PERSON/INSTITUTION INDEX: Irish Volunteers O'Sullivan, Andrew (Andy) | d1923| Intelligence Officer IRA North Cork Byrne, Catherine ('Kit') | Mallow | Cumann na mBan 1923 Irish Republican Army (post-1922)
SUBJECT/EVENT ETC. INDEX : Civil War, Ireland (1922-1923)
Hunger Strikes Anti-Treaty IRA
CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE
Conditions Governing Access Open for research by appointment to those registered as a Reader. Language English, some Irish
Physical /Technical Requirements Some fading of text in 2 items, but still legible
Finding Aids Descriptive List
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related Units of Description Reference
Description
Other
U169
Siobhan Lankford Papers
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RULES /CONVENTIONS USED ISADG
ARCHIVIST’S NOTE Description Prepared By:
Brian McGee, Archivist CCCA
April 2017
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ITEM DESCRIPTIONS
Reference:
Date:
PR69/01
9 Aug 1923
Title: Level:
Letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne
item
Extent:
2pp plus envelope
Scope and Content: MS. letter from 'Andy', Andrew O'Sullivan (d22 Nov 1923), IRA anti-Treaty prisoner, Courthouse Cells, [Washington Street], Cork, to 'Dear Kit', Miss Catherine Byrne, (Cumann na mBan) 110 Main Street, Mallow, county Cork. Thanks Peg and Kit for the letter, Anglo-Celt newspaper, and four packets of 'Lambkins Killarneys' cigarettes. He is glad they enjoyed the 'sports at Nadd', of which he supposes his friend Pat Crowley and his wife Bride were the main organisers. He reflects philosophically and in religious terms on his imprisonment and his future, stating that 'The Gloomy portals of this digs open not to me and here I remain yet. I know not what the mysterious future holds in store and I merely live on in the sure knowledge that God's will work out my future destiny according to his predestined plan...'. The Committee of Investigation adjourned the case and he has heard no more about a trial. Two friends in Cork send them the morning papers. He remarks that '...Danny Boy is going for T.D honours', possibly a reference to the candidacy for T.D. of Daniel Corkery (b1883-d1961) , as an anti-Treatyite for North Cork, in the 1923 general election. Reference: PR69/02 Date: 12 Aug 1923 Title: Letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Peg [Byrne] Level: item Extent: 2pp Scope and Content: MS. letter from 'Andy', Andrew O'Sullivan (d22 Nov 1923), IRA anti-Treaty prisoner, Courthouse Cells, [Washington Street], Cork, to 'Dear Peg', [Miss Peg ?Byrne], [Mallow, county Cork]. He received the note from Kit and the 'joint kind smoking parcel'. Describes in deliberately effusive and humorous language his imprisonment in Cork, including the '...feeling that artists have passed through the portals enroute to a greater home farther west... decorations on the walls are of a truly rustic and wonderfully amateurish style...the interweaving of mottoes, names and other fervently religious inscriptions recall youthful tracings from the Book of Kells...'. Reference: PR69/03 Date: 16 Aug 1923 Title: Letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne Level: item Extent: 2pp plus envelope Scope and Content: MS. letter from 'Andy', Andrew O'Sullivan (d22 Nov 1923), IRA anti-Treaty prisoner, Courthouse Cells, [Washington Street], Cork, to 'Dear Kit', Miss Catherine Byrne, (Cumann na Mban) 110 Main Street, Mallow, county Cork. Thanks her for the 'lovely cake' and kindness since he 'came to his new quarters'. He does not expect to be in the cells much longer. Mentions that the Mallow show is 'going in great guns' and that he well remembers the last show as he carried the brunt of the work and organisation, and for the past 7 years he has officiated as a judge of farm produce at Kilmallock and Newcastle West shows. (Partially illegible/faded)
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Reference:
Date:
PR69/04
17 Aug 1923
Title: Level:
Letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne
item
Extent:
4pp plus envelope
Scope and Content: MS. letter from 'Andy', Andrew O'Sullivan (d22 Nov 1923), IRA anti-Treaty prisoner, No.4 Wing, City Gaol, [Sundays Well], Cork, to 'Dear Kit', Miss Catherine Byrne, 110 Main Street, Mallow, county Cork. Recounts in deliberately humorous language the circumstances of his move from the Courthouse cells to the City Gaol. '...I had just begun to settle down in the enjoyment of the sumptuous suite provided by my friends in the Courthouse bastille when they suggested a change to the more respectable environment of suburbia....they sent a Rolls Royce and a bevy of aides-de- camp... I was waited on by a deputation of officers who representing our Old Tan time loved comrade Dick Mulcahy....made me an illuminated address stating his satisfaction in knowing I had been guilty of no military offence. Reference: PR69/05 Date: 11 Sep 1923 Title: Letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne Level: item Extent: 4pp plus envelope Scope and Content: MS. letter from 'Andy', Andrew O'Sullivan (d22 Nov 1923), IRA anti-Treaty prisoner, No.4 Wing, Female Prison, Cork (City Gaol, Sundays Well), to 'Dear Kit', Miss Catherine Byrne, 110 Main Street, Mallow, county Cork. Thanks her for the letter and parcel. Sends his regards to 'all at 110' and to other friends and cousins. Notes that 'there is quite a crowd here now as all political prisoners in the County Gaol were brought here the day after C O'Callaghan Ballyclough and P Healy Millstreet were released. A prisoner named Mossy O'Brien was seriously wounded in the head in his cell today by a shot fired at the window by a sentry...'. Reference: PR69/06 Date: 24 Oct 1923 Title: Letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne Level: item Extent: 2pp Scope and Content: MS. letter from 'Andy', Andrew O'Sullivan (d22 Nov 1923), IRA anti-Treaty prisoner, cell D.3.4, Mountjoy Gaol, Dublin, to 'Dear Kit', Miss Catherine Byrne, 110 Main Street, Mallow, county Cork. He trusts that she has got over her 'burn', he heard of it coming up (to Dublin). Writes that there are nearly 200 of us here in hunger strike, they are on day 11, with no letters or parcels allowed, 'We are out for unconditional release and every man of us will go out free and unconditionally or in his coffin....we hear the hymns and Rosary of the dear Dublin girls outside the walls every night'. He is as strong as when they started but 1 and a half stones lighter. Dick Willis is every bit as strong...He is a few cells from me.....They don't know either of us here so you must not write as it would never get us. We refuse to give our names and they dont know some of our best leaders..... An Poblacht Abú- Freedom or Death. Andy.' Note on page 1 'This is a secret note by a secret route...'. Reference: PR69/07 Date: 2 Nov 1923 Title: Letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne
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Level:
item
Extent:
2pp plus envelope
Scope and Content: MS. letter from 'Andy', Andrew O'Sullivan (d22 Nov 1923), IRA anti-Treaty prisoner, cell D.3.18, Mountjoy Gaol, Dublin, to 'Dear Kit', Miss Catherine Byrne, 110 Main Street, Mallow, county Cork. It is the 20th day of the hunger strike and he is 'thinking of a suit of ladies attire....I have grown so thin and ladylike'. Mentions Kevin O'Higgins' statement that the strikers will 'take the full consequences of our acts' and their public pledge after holy communion on the 14th October, and their watchword, 'Freedom or Death'. Dick and himself are as well as can be expected. He is acting prisoners O/C (Officer Commanding) as the O/C is very weak. Enquires of the 'bhoys', concerning his possible burial at the republican plot in the new cemetery, Mallow, as an incentive to the next generation. He wants nothing by way of an epitaph on the cross except 'An Poblacht Abú', until a republic is established, '...let my memory be commemorated as thought fit with that of my old chief L. Lynch' (General Liam Lynch). Asks Lizzie Willis to send money to Miss M.O'Neill, 92 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin for cigarettes and chewing gum for Dick '.....She is C. na mban and can get letters and stuff in here...'. Reference: PR69/08 Date: nd [c1922-1923] Title: Postcard from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne Level: item Extent: 1 item Scope and Content: Humourous unsigned postcard [from Andrew O'Sullivan, [?Ballsbridge, Dublin] to 'Miss Kit Byrne', c/o Miss Daly, Tobacconist, Main Street, Mallow, county Cork. Asks, "How are you off for Sugar ?" Reference: PR69/09 Date: Oct 1923 Title: Newspaper clipping re. funeral of Andrew O'Sullivan Level: item Extent: 1 item Scope and Content: Newspaper clipping re. funeral of Andrew O'Sullivan in Mallow Co. Cork, native of Denbawn, Denn, Co. Cavan, agricultural instructor, and Commandant, IRA, died after 40 days hunger -strike. Reference: PR69/10 Date: 9 Aug 1923 Title: TS. transcript of letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne Level: item Extent: 1p Scope and Content: TS. transcript of PR69/1 (with errors). Reference: PR69/11 Date: 16 Aug 1923 Title: TS. transcript of letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne Level: item Extent: 1p Scope and Content: TS. transcript of PR69/3 (with errors).
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Reference:
Date:
PR69/12
17 Aug 1923
Title: Level:
TS. transcript of letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne
item
Extent: 1p Scope and Content: TS. transcript of PR69/4 (with errors). Reference: PR69/13
Date:
11 Sep 1923
Title: Level:
TS. transcript of letter from Andy O'Sullivan to Catherine 'Kit' Byrne
item
Extent: 1p Scope and Content: TS. transcript of PR69/5 (with errors). Reference: PR69/14
Date:
5 Nov 1925
Title: Level:
Envelope addressed to Miss Kit Byrne
item
Extent:
1 item
Scope and Content: Envelope addressed to Miss Kit Byrne, 110 Main Street, Mallow, stamped in Dublin. Reference: PR69/15 Date: nd Title: Envelope marked 'Andy's Letters' Level: item Extent: 1 item Scope and Content: Envelope marked 'Andy's Letters' containing a blank sheet of paper.
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