Personal and military papers of William Edward Parsons, Major Lord Oxmantown, (from 1908 the fifth earl of Rosse) including commissions; illuminated addresses from the Heaton and Shipley tenants on his coming-of-age, 1894; and from the Birr Parish Vestry on his marriage, 1905; a fairly savage attack on him in The Midland Tribune at the time of his return from the Boer War in 1900 to join the newly formed Irish Regiment; letters from him to Toler R. Garvey during the Boer War and the first World War; a page recording the signatures of Lord Oxmantown and other Irish notabilities who attended a shoot at Ashford, Cong, Co. Mayo; during a visit by the Prince of Wales, 1905; and the fifth earl’s London address book, 1911.

Also includes copy of his birth certificate (1873); commissions and applications to Officers’ Reserve (1908); appeal to be allowed to appear before Medical Board in Dublin, not London (1916); detailed medical reports on the extent of his wound, by shell to the head, where a palm-sized piece missing, damage to his speech, comprehension and gait causing 80% disability with epileptic attacks; his death certificate plus further obituary of the fifth earl by Michael Pegum prepared for the Kildare St and University Club for publication in a book of memorials to those members of the Club who gave their lives in WWI and WWII (2010).

Includes letters to Toler R. Garvey (‘Rob’) from the front describing poisonous gas attacks in the trenches (26 April 1915 and 11 May 1915).

Clipping from The Weekly Irish Times, "Historic Irish Mansions Number 272: Murrisk Abbey, County Mayo", written by James Fleming.

Clipping, "Trying to grow bamboo, good results in plantings at Glenamoy" from The Irish Press.

Ms letter of J McCarthy, Secretary of Swinford Rural District Council in response to queries regarding the installation of Electric Lighting in Swinford County Mayo. He writes, 'the scheme has not been in operation sufficiently long to reply fully to to your queries as regards profit but it is estimated that after the first year the undertaking will be a paying one. With ms note of R. H. Moore attached stating estimate of cost to Banagher ' about £2,000 should do'.

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of the Geashill Estate. Matters referred to include fires on the estate; workmen's compensation claims; rental arrears; trespass and poaching; Lord Digby's shooting rights; repair of Garda Barracks at Killeigh and the sale of Lugmore Wood.

Letter from Muir to Kennedy: We had a divil of a fire yesterday on Ross bog and a strenuous job to keep it away from the wood. It was some fight, luckily enough we mastered it and we have quite a decent margin of heath left. I don't know how far the fire extended but I saw it blazing merrily away up by Dr Regan's and far beyond. I expect it probably went on as far as the Screggan Mt Bolus Rd. I was astonished to see grouse on the bog but the young must have been roasted alive, the old ones kept changing their position from time to time but eventually had to seek pastures new. Snipe and curlew all had to shift and there were quite a few of each. It will be some years before Ross becomes a mecca for poachers again.' (10 January 1936)

Letter from Digby to Kennedy: 'I expect the whole family will be over in Ireland 31st July-10th August. Haven't made plans yet except that we have rooms at Parknasilla 1st -6th August. We may go to Mulranny and [?] but if we do we won't have time to look in at Clonad I am afraid, but will let you know later. Yes! I shall want my usual Glenamoy fishing licence. You have taken this annually for me so that they can't say I don't intend fishing in my river!! So please get that and my gun license for later in the year. I will get any children's license for fishing if necessary. We shall bring over the same two cars and the chauffeur we had last year...' (14 July 1937)

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of Glenamoy Estate, Ballina, Co. Mayo under James Boland Esq. Matters referred to include equestrian, hunting and fishing activities; game conservationism and dealings with various conservator groups; poaching; trespassing; employee salaries; transport fees; claims compensation; and the letting the Glenamoy River.

Includes letter from B J Newcombe, Secretary to Salmon Fisheries Protection Association, to Lewis Goodbody: ‘…The rights of all Fishery Owners in the Free State are being tested in the still pending litigation in the Erne and Moy fishery cases. This litigation has been going on for some years at enormous expense, and now the last decision (by Mr Justice Johnson) in favour of the owners has been appealed against.’ (21 May 1929)

Letter from Goodbody to Mr John Mudge: ‘Neary's cases is that he foul hooked this salmon on the 29th October, 4 or 5 pools above the boundary pool. Now, in certain water at least Lord Digby's bank would cover 4 or 5 pools above. When I pointed this out to him, he now says that it was hooked 262 yards above the boundary pool. It was about 6 lbs weight, and he says he had trout rod, and he only got it out 50 or 60 yards below the boundary pool.’ (2 December 1929)

Letter from Lewis Goodbody to Lord Digby: ‘Woodcock shooting in Ireland ends on the 28th February everywhere, but I know that Reggie was of the opinion that it should close at latest by the middle of February. After that the birds were certainly pairing, and nests have been found here early in March. My own impression is that it ought to stop on the 31st January, but at all events they should not be looked for after the first week in February.’ (17 January 1931)