Ballybrittas Agricultural Society, Laois (broiler distribution)
correspondence, balance sheets and accounts, minutes of meetings including reports by D. J. Williams

Annual report, account and rental for year ending June 1916, showing a reduction in overall amount remitted to Lord Digby due to a large increase in income tax, but notes that rents and interest in lieu of rents have been satisfactorily paid. Refers to the 'late rebellion in Dublin' and that the country is in a state of disquiet.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year end June 1915, in which Digby describes in detail the events surrounding the Geashill Cattle Drive on the grasslands of Ballydownan in November 1914. Describes the bands and banners accompanying the drive, the injuring of several policemen, and the arrest of 46 men who subsequently pleaded guilty at the Winter Assizes in Dublin. Also notes that despite the jailing of the ring-leaders, agitation continued and boycotting and intimidation on the estate were rife. Also notes that inspection of the boundaries of the estate has been completed by the Land Commission but that the final inspection has yet to be made.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1914, showing that rents were paid well. Warns however that the past year has been marked by 'great unrest and excitement' mainly due to a demand made of Lord Digby that he take up and sell the grasslands to the Land Commission which were in his occupation at the time of the sale of the rest of the estate but had since been let to 'good and solvent tenants'. As a result of the refusal of Lord Digby to take up the lands and of the occupier to surrender them, a series of meetings was held culminating in a large cattle drive of all the cattle belonging to the tenants of the lands. Also reports that a special police station has been erected in Geashill village for the protection of these lands.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1913, showing rents payable and interest in lieu of rents payable to the Land Commission were satisfactorily paid.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1912, showing that rents remaining payable and interest in lieu of rents payable to the Land Commission have been satisfactorily paid. Notes, however, that several years will elapse before the purchase money can be received.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1910, in which Digby reports that rents payable by tenant purchasers to the Land Commission have been satisfactorily met with only one defaulter, and that the rents of those who refused to sign purchase agreements have also been paid punctually. Also notes that the grasslands which have for several years been in Lord Digby's occupation have been let at satisfactory rents to solvent and respectable tenants and reports that there were none of the difficulties 'which have recently attended the letting of grasslands in so many parts of this county and in Ireland generally.'

Annual report, accounts and rental for the year ending 1909, in which Digby describes the great state of transition in which the estate now finds itself. Reports that income has been received partly in the form of rent and partly in lieu of rent on the amount of the purchase money for the tenants holdings, with interest collected by the Land Commission. Also reports that the purchase transactions in both King's and Queen's Counties were brought to a conclusion with very little friction, the tenant purchasers having paid the installments of interest to the Land Commission in a satisfactory manner. Purchase agreements were lodged with the Estates Commissioners on behalf of all but 16 tenants who refused to enter into an agreement and will continue to pay rent. Also reports that the high red bogs were vested in Trustees appointed by the tenants for the benefit of the tenant purchasers, subject to the reservation of sporting rights by Lord Digby.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1908, showing a slightly reduced gross rental. Reports on the general 'lawlessness' throughout the country in the form of cattle driving, boycotting and malicious injuries, but is pleased to note that the Geashill estate has been free of such incidents.

Also reports that the purchase negotiations with the tenants have been agreed and the tenanted lands in King's County and Queen's County are now to be sold under the premise of the Land Purchase Act of 1903. Warns however that due to the insufficiency of funds from the government, it will be some years before the purchase money and bonds can be paid to Lord Digby and the holdings vested in the tenants.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1907, showing a reduction in overall rent received and a slight increase in arrears due. Warns that the future of the estate must be 'prejudicially affected by the general demoralization caused by the apathy shown by the government in dealing with the new form of disorder known as "cattle driving"and by the extraordinary and immoral terms of their proposed legislation dealing with evicted tenants.' Also reports that negotiations with tenants were re-opened on the subject of the sale of the estate but with no definite result as yet.