Administrative correspondence relating to the prisoner of war relief scheme set up at Birr Castle under the patronage of Lady Rosse; postcards and letters of thanks from the prisoners of war from Irish regiments (but predominantly the Irish Guards) interned in Germany; and acknowledgment postcards of parcels received from same.

Contains lists of Irish Guards noting their name, regiment number, rank and where interned, including a separate listing of those from Birr; letters from Selfridge's & Co., Oxford St, London to Lois, Countess of Rosse, in relation to the contents of nine parcel types assembled for sending to the Irish Guards Prisoners of War; correspondence from Mary Britton, Rosfaraghan, Ferbane and Col. Douglas Proby, in relation to subscriptions collected in her village on behalf of Private B. Anderson (Reg No 3220), who is interned in Limburg; and correspondence between Major de Vesci, Regimental Adjutant, Irish Guards to Lady Rosse, mainly in relation to the movement of Irish Guards prisoners between POW camps in Germany so that parcels can be sent to them. Also includes ephemeral material such as newspaper cuttings relating to the Irish Guards, a packet of jam jar covers, and a copy of an illuminated address presented to Queen Mary from the Women of Ireland in July 1911, and distributed by Lady Aberdeen, the head of war relief in Ireland.

Preprinted acknowledgment postcards sent by return by prisoners-of-war in German camps on receipt of relief parcels organised by the Birr Castle scheme. Personal details recorded include name, rank and internment camp.

Includes a letter from Toler R. Garvey, land agent in Birr to client, V. J. E. Ryan who owns property in Sackville Street, the scene of some of the worst fighting in the Rising on 10 May 1916:

‘I hear that your house in Sackville Street is not seriously damaged only pitted by rifle and machine gunfire and in any case your rent is I should say quite safe. The Rebellion is all over and it’s merely a case of rounding up now, but [sic] all the futile reprisals upon martial law being maintained until this conspiracy and all its sympathisers are thoroughly crushed.’

Includes a letter from Toler R. Garvey Jr land agent at Birr Castle to ‘V.J. Beaumont Nesbitt’, Tubberdaly, Edenderry on 9 June 1921 who records agitations in Birr, and laments a former way of life:

‘...Although things are bad they are not a bit worse than I had anticipated, but we must reach an end of it sometime and we, or whoever is left, may once again be able to live in peace, though I don’t think they will ever know the comfort and good times which we had in the past.’

Also includes letter to Hon. Geoffrey Parsons on 8 December 1921, revealing the anxiety surrounding the situation for landowners following the War of Independence:

‘I enclose... Notice from the Local Government Board of their intention to take the land at Croghan after all, but in view of the Settlement just arrived at on the Irish question, it seems very doubtful that they will proceed with the matter. Things have moved rapidly since I saw you and we shall be face to face with a totally new situation.’

Includes letters from Toler Garvey Jr relating to the occupation of Birr Castle by the Free State Army during December 1922 and January 1923. Also contains letters concerning the finances of the Birr Castle estate, theft of silver from Thomastown Park, the execution of three youths on Castle grounds, and a compensation claim to the OPW in February 1923.

Includes a letter from Garvey to the Hon. Geoffrey Parsons on 30 November 1922:

‘I have been unofficially informed that the occupation of the Castle is to continue for the present, and though it is not intended it should be permanent, still no date can be named for evacuation. I expect to hear something official on the matter before long.’

Also includes a letter from Garvey to the Hon. Geoffrey Parsons on 5 December 1922 concerning the precarious nature of the estate finances due to the mass non-payment of rent:

‘I had an interview on Saturday with the Co. Secretary of the Farmers’ Union and representatives of the tenants, but I am much afraid that nothing will result from it, as they renewed their demand of a 50% reduction of rent, to be made permanent until a sale takes place. This of course I could not agree to and made an alternative proposal, on the lines we settled, and they said they would lay it before a meeting, but I am afraid the general trend at present is against paying anything or anyone.’

Includes a report by Garvey on 12 December 1922 regarding silver stolen from Thomastown Park:

‘Report as to silver plate stolen from Thomastown Park, the property of V.J. Ryan. For the last couple of years Mr Ryan, the owner, has not been in residence at Thomastown Park and Patrick Stokes, ex-soldier, and his wife, native of Crinkle, have been employed and living in the house as caretakers. Stokes reported to me immediately afterwards that the house had been raided by armed men on 16th last, when locked and sealed doors, presses, boxes, etc were broken open in the course for an alleged search for arms of which there were none in the house...’

Includes a letter from Garvey to the OC Free State Troops on 26 January 1923 regarding the executions of three youths from Tullamore, William Conroy, Patrick Cunningham and Colum Kelly:

‘Acting on behalf of the Earl of Rosse’s Trustees I wish to enter a formal protest against executions taking place at Birr Castle and the burial of executed persons within the grounds. If such unfortunately had to be carried out, I do not think it should be on privately owned premises. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Chief of Staff.’

Includes a letter from Garvey to Commander in Chief, Portobello Barracks on 26 January 1923:

‘I enclose copy of a letter which I have today addressed to the Office at Birr Castle. I need hardly point out the stigma which will attach to the place in consequence, especially if the executed persons are buried there and I have to request on behalf of the Earl of Rosse’s Trustees that you will make other arrangements.’

Includes a letter from Garvey to Geoffrey Parsons on 27 January 1923, the day after the executions at Birr Castle:

‘I am sorry to say that three executions were carried out in the Castle Grounds yesterday morning and the corpses buried in the old laundry drying ground close to the gravel tennis court. I wrote at once on behalf of the Trustees protesting against this having been done in private grounds and requesting that the bodies be re-interred elsewhere. The Military authorities are taking over several more rooms in the Castle next week and it is rumoured that they may shortly take over the whole house. I will try and keep things as between them and us on a regular footing as possible and I think the time has come, seeing that their occupation has rendered the house impossible for use by family they might be asked to pay the rent of a house elsewhere. We have been without a train from here for over a week and wires are still cut every second day so I can hardly say that things are improving just at present.’

Also includes a letter from Garvey to the Office of Public Works on 28 February 1923 looking for compensation for the occupancy of the Castle:

‘Lord Rosse and family have at present the use of a house lent to them by a friend, but this arrangement has to come to an end and it has become necessary to procure a residence immediately which raises the question of the terms of occupation by the Military at Birr Castle.’

Includes letters from to Toler R. Garvey Jr relating to incidents at Birr Castle during the Irish Civil War, particularly the protestation of the execution of three youths, William Conroy, Patrick Cunningham and Colum Kelly from Tullamore in January 1923 at Birr Castle.

Includes a letter from Garvey to Chief of Staff, Portobello Barracks, on 3 January 1924 regarding executions at Birr Castle in January 1923:

‘I am directed by Lord Rosses’s trustees to inquire whether the time has not now arrived when the remains of the men executed last year and buried in the private grounds of Birr Castle could be safely removed and re-interred elsewhere, it is obvious that for many reasons they cannot be left indefinitely in the private grounds and though of course Lord Rosse’s trustees understand that the military authorities would in any case have the removed carried out before the premises are evacuated there seems to be no good reason why it should not now be done.’

Box of in-letters from correspondents whose names begin with ‘A’ and ‘C’, including correspondence about Sir Nesbitt Armstrong’s trusts, and letters from James Callaghan (a thatcher employed by the Rosse estate), from the ‘Chief of Staff, January 1923’ about the occupation of Birr Castle by the Free State Army, from W.Y. Chisholm (manager of the Rosse sawmill, from Miss Edith A. Cramer, and from Messrs Coutts & Co.)

Includes: Letter from Padraig Ua Maolchatha, Col. Comdt., G. O. C. 3rd Southern Command, Roscrea: I am directed by the Chief of General Staff to inform you that it will not be possible to evacuate any portion of the premises occupied by the troops before Christmas. I am at present unable to give you any idea when we may be able to evacuate Birr Castle but assure you that we will not occupy it any longer than necessary. I regret being unable to facilitate Lord Rosse’s family in this matter but trust that the owner will appreciate the circumstances which force us to remain in occupation.’ (4 December 1922)

Includes letter from Capt. F. O’Brien for the Chief of General Staff, Dublin, to Toler Garvey: ‘I have been in communication with the General Officer Commanding of the Area who informs me that we was aware of game being shot on the Rosse Estate, but did not prevent it, as he was not aware that the game was preserved.’ (8 January 1923)

Includes letters from the Hon. Geoffrey Parsons, in Basingstoke, relating to the affairs of Birr Castle Demesne, during the period in which he acted on behalf of the sixth earl in his minority (1918-1924).

Includes minor letters from Captain P. Wall, Castle Barracks, Birr (1922-1923).