McCARTHY, Christopher. A small notebook containing his manuscript Record of Service with the Fianna and IRA, circa 1914-24, and later with Fianna Fail and the wartime Defence Forces, circa 40 pp in a notably tidy and legible hand. 

“Sometime before the Howth Gun-running I joined Fianna Eireann at the Hardwicke Hall. At this time I was attending St. Joseph’s School, Upr. Dorset St., ... As a schoolboy I met M.J. Judge, who made the famous ‘wooden rifles’ which the Volunteers drilled with. I often delivered them to their Headquarters ... Owing to my age I did not take part in 1916 rebellion. When Fianna Éireann was reorganised after 1916, I joined up again ... 1st April 1919 to 31st March 1920, I was now a member of C Coy. 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade Fianna Éireann. Activities included attending military lectures, drill parades etc. ‘1st April 1920 to 31st March 1921. I was promoted Company Quartermaster ... took part in raids on private houses for arms, ammunition etc. As quartermaster I had care of company’s arms which included about 6 revolvers, ammunition etc. - all were stored in kitchen at rear of 83 Lr. Dorset St. where my aunt (Mrs. Coulter) lived. I was also detailed for special intelligence work with Fianna - reporting details of enemy movements, names, ranks and addresses of enemy officers residing outside barracks ... 1st April 1921 to 11th July 1921 (Cease Fire date). I was transferred to No. 2 Coy. 5th Battalion (Engineers) Irish Republican Army, March 1921 ... promoted to rank of Company Intelligence Officer. My first task was to reorganize the Intelligence staff (I was now aged 18 years and some months).” With details of his reports on various suspected enemy agents, including a suspected spy named Barnwell, whose brother-in-law was shot by I.R.A. in Drumcondra; Report on Belfast Boycott goods at Alex Thom’s factory ... Report on District Inspector RIC who frequented a Dublin
hairdressing saloon; Report on a woman who frequently cashed postal orders at a Dublin post office, etc. “1922 ... Previous to attack on Four Courts (some hours) I was mobilised ... to assist laying land-mines outside all entrances ... detailed to Chancery Road gate-post ... When we surrendered, we were brought to a distillery at Bow St. The following morning we were brought in Army cars to Mountjoy Jail, I spent the remainder of the year in this prison ... transferred to internment camp ... until Oct. 1923 when I was released ... several unsuccessful attempts to escape by tunnelling, etc ... appointed on intelligence work to watch fellow prisoners who were suspected of giving information to the Free State”, etc. and so on, with further details of joining Fianna Fail, the Local Security Force in WWII, organizing various Cumann of Fianna Fail, etc.
An interesting and detailed account, from a man who was not in the front line of IRA activity, but was one of those whose everyday work was essential to the cause (he secured a military pension, presumably based on these accounts). With a selection of related items, including printed Souvenir of Reunion of Four Courts Garrison, 1 July 1950; a note from Terence de Vere White replying to a letter about his biography of Kevin O’Higgins, 1948; a notebook with Minutes of a Fianna Fail Cumann meeting 1947; and a small selection of brass military buttons.

[Cat 162]