The autograph book originally belonged to John Lennon, of Killeenmore, Killeigh, and Harbour St, Tullamore. He was an internee of the Rath Internment Camp at the Curragh (1921) and later of Tintown Camp (1923). The album contains many Laois/Offaly signatories such as E. Forrestal, Tullamore (Rath); Bob Lennon, Killeigh (Rath); Frank Bulfin TD, Derrinlough, Birr (Rath); Seaghan Ó Dulchaointigh, Crinkle, Birr (Rath); J. G. Ross, Killeigh (Rath); Patrick J. Daly, Tullamore (Hut 31, Rath), Jimmie Egan, Henry Street, Tullamore (Hut 25, Rath), Denis Walsh, Tullamore (Hut 40, Rath); Séamus O’Faolain (Hut 12 Camp 3 Tintown), Patrick Boland, Ballycumber, (Camp 3 Tintown), Walter A. Mitchell (Camp 2 Tintown); Edward Dunne, Clonaslee (Camp 2, Tintown), Sean McGuinness TD, Kilbeggan, and P. Bracken, Clonaslee (Hut 12 Tintown). Later non-political entries dating from c. 1927 are by Maggie Corcoran (later Lennon) and her relatives and friends.
Lennon, John
Letter from Doctor Keith Lamb at Ballykilty, Malahide, County Dublin, to his brother Reverend Adam Lamb, regarding the Fuller family of Ballitore, County Kildare.
List of members of the Fuller family of Ballitore, County Kildare, written on stationary from Woodfield House, Clara, County Offaly.
In the court for the sale of encumbered estates in Ireland, rental of lands in the county of Kildare and King's county to be sold be auction. Consisting of Morristown-Biller in Kildare and Clonfenlough, Rashinagh and part of Corramore in King's County.
Drawing of Hut 26, C. Company at Rath Internment Camp with list of internees. Hut Leader listed as Denis Pender and the Quarter Master as [Patrick Delahunt]. Internees are listed from Number 1062 to 1091 as follows: 1062 Peter Traynor, 1063 John Lennon, 1064 John Ravenhill, 1065 Joe Lee, 1066 Henry Haughey, 1067 Michael Cooke, 1068 Vincent Neville, 1069 Thomas Finlay, 1070 Thomas Clarke, 1071 John Traynor, 1072 Michael Doyle, 1073 William Tobin, 1074 John Horan, 1075 M[ichael] Molloy, 1076 Denis Pender, 1077 John Buggle, 1078 Patrick Brady, 1079 Jerry Kelly, 1080 Patirck Quinn, 1081 Patrick [Delahunt], 1082 John Daly, 1083 Jerry Neville, 1084 Joseph Neville, 1086 Thomas McGivinchy, 1086 Jason McBrien, 1087 Patrick Costello, 1088 [Matthew] Conifray, 1089 Larry [Hayden], 1090 Thomas Shanley, and 1091 Bernard Maguire.
Signature of Mícheál Ó Fearghail (Galway)
Verse from internee No 1065, Joseph Lee, Hut 26:
'I wished I was a little Duck
All swimming on a lake
And I beside you swimming too
A faithful little drake.'
Quote from Thomas Davis transcribed by Laurence Hayden (Roscommon), Rath Camp:
'Ireland's Wants: To get her peasants into snug homesteads, with wee tilled fields and placid hearths. To develop the ingenuity of her artists, and the docile industry of her artisans. To make for her own instruction a literature wherein our climate, history and passions shall breathe again - conscious strength and integrity and the high post of holy freedoom - these are Ireland's wants.'