Saoirse: Irisleabhar Oileáin Spíce (1921) Uimh. I. (Freedom: Spike Island Journal, Number 1).

Bun Clódaí: Fáisceán na Réaltóige [Bunclody, Co. Wexford: The Star Press], i gCló don Chéad Uair, Lúnasa, 1954, Bliain Mhuire. pp. [viii], 35, [4]. Grey stiff wrappers, lettered in black, star in black on upper cover. A fine copy of an extremely rare item.

Spike Island was the largest British military run prison for republican prisoners and internees in Munster and south Leinster during the Irish War of Independence. In 1921 there were more than 550 republican prisoners interned on Spike Island, Inis Pic, in Cork Harbour. During this period they decided to compile a journal which they entitled Saoirse - Irisleabhar Oileain Spice, a hand-written production in school copybooks, although terms like „i gclo‟ and „going to press‟ are used in the text. As far as we know, this first issue of Saoirse was the only one to ever appear. Some time later, the prisoners staged a riot in the prison and caused a great deal of destruction, breaking down the dividing walls between the cells, and when the warders finally brought things under control, the prisoners were housed all together in one large hut. One of them, the late Sean Sinnott of Wexford, remembered that there was a copy of Saoirse in a certain cell. About two o'clock in the morning, when all was quiet, he made his way stealthily through the broken walls until he reached the cell and retrieved the manuscript copy of the journal. The contents of that copy of Saoirse was printed at The Star Press, Bunclody in 1954. It consists of articles and essays on a variety of topics, some poetry, items of news, and „answers to correspondents‟! Unfortunately, only a few of the contributors give their names. The „Sean M. C‟, author of „Labour in the new Irish State‟, is, according to Sean Sinnott, the brother of Michael Collins; and the story „Twenty Years After‟ is thought to have been written by a Padraig Ó Seaghdha. The editor of Saoirse was a man named Frizelle. According to the Irish introduction, a previous attempt had been made to produce a journal but the editor had been transferred to another internment camp, Beara, before the plan could be put into action. Contents: Míniú; Dar Léitheoirí; „Saoirse‟; Labour in the New State; Twenty Years After; Open Letter to Lloyd George; Roger Casement - A Memory; The Resurrection of the National Spirit; Written on a Child's Album; Is é Mac Uí Frizelle an tEagarthóir. Cuirtear na lámhscríbhinní chuige gan mhoill. Mr Frizelle is the Editor. Manuscripts should be sent to him without delay. „Ba mhaith liom a rá, áfach, ná cuirfear aon ní i gcló ina bhfuil tagairt speisialta do dhaoine sa chlós.‟ I would like to say, however, that nothing will be printed in which there is particular reference to people in the yard [i.e. in the prison-yard – for fear of compromising internees?]. Míniú „Sa mbliain 1921 chuir na príosúnaigh sa champa imtheorannachta ar Inis Beag, Cuan Chorcaí („Oileán Spíce‟ sa lámhscríbhinn), irisleabhar ar bun ar theideal dó Saoirse. Iris lámhscríofa a bhí ann, cé go luaitear „cur i gcló‟, srl, sa téacs. Chomh fada agus is eol dom, níor tháinig ach an t-aon uimhir de amach riamh.‟
Explanation
In the year 1921 the prisoners in the internment camp on Little Island, Cork Harbour („Spike Island‟ in the manuscript), established a magazine entitled Saoirse [Freedom]. It was a handwritten magazine, although there is mention of „printed‟, etc, in the text. As far as we know, only one number of it ever appeared. A leabhairín, gabh amach fán saol - O little book, go out in the world, Is do gach n-aon dá mbuaileann leat - And everyone you meet, Aithris go cruinn go maireann Gaeil - Tell them accurately that the Irish still survive Tréis cleasa claon‟ na nGall arfad - After all the crooked tricks of the English. Má bhriseann ar an bhFógra Síochána, ní bheidh sé inár gcumas cabhrú le hArm na hÉireann ar pháirc an áir, agus ní bheidh súil acu le cabhair uainne. If the Truce [i.e. Anglo-Irish Truce of July 1921] collapses, we will not be able to assist the Army of Ireland on the battlefield, and they will not expect assistance from us.

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