Athenry News & Views Spring 2026

Spring 2026

On Wednesday, 14th December, Peter Broderick had a visit from Frank Hennelly. who “had all the news from home. Was glad to hear of the collapse of Burton Persse’s pleasure fox-hunt. This taste of coercion might let him see the injustice to which others are subjected.” On Friday, December 23. Peter Broderick notes: “the men are downcast at their position on the now approach to Xmas, not through any lack of courage but thinking of home and friends. There are many who think their imaginary crimes have now been sufficiently expiated for.” Saturday, December 24, was the eve of the festival which Peter Broderick noted ‘unites mankind; the greatest of the great days of Christian love, rejoicing and festivity; the one that closes up the wounds caused by many differences; the one that at least in every house hold in Ireland cements more closely family ties, and the one which above all others brings back to the wanderer on a foreign strand happy thoughts of the loved ones at home.” “I look around my dreary abode and ask myself where I am and can I imagine the festivities at home. The sad thought rises before my mind that! might as well be in far away Australia, or under the shadow of the Southern Cross or further still in pursuit of the Norh Pole, as be in the position which the exigencies of fate has placed me. I find myself entombed as it were in a living grave. We have Communion with the faithful but what more. We breathe circumscribed air. Our daily companions are men we have never known. “Nevertheless, men who by their love of Ireland we have here. It is not of my friends or my acquaintances I complain (if this is the proper word), but of the source of the evil. Hell-born English Government “As I looked at my abode, 13 x 6.5, this morning, these were the ideas that suggested themselves to me. When I got further into the day, when friends bade me goodbye and (oh, the irony!) a Merry Xmas. I thought again of my position. The day was in complete harmony with our status, as anything more miserable than the outlook it is hard to imagine. “An incessant downpour until late in the day rather limited the area of our exercise and this part of the performance was consequently mostly executed in the hall. Often with a longing myself, O’Beinie and Tuite looked over the wall (to see the sky) that separated us from common

humanity and indeed the mischievous idea once entered our minds of raising a mutiny. But then, the difficulties we met with, within and without, the obstacles to be overcome rose in such majestic power before our eyes that the idea was abandoned until next Xmas. “But the machinations of the disloyalists was not yet satisfied. We should have our Christmas fare! That which was not allowed, illicit literature and illicit idstillation. To manage the necessary amount of those contraband articles the wits of all the conspirators were set to work. I take my divide of the laurels as my trophy was first to the front -”United Irishman, dated 24th Dec., 1881. One week after its suppression! “Many and various were the enquiries how did I get it. No matter ‘tis here, was the reply. John unfolded a little parcel of innocent appearance and disclosed to the gaze of the bewildered —a further instalment of the illicit literature, a ‘Nation’ and a “Weekly News!” But the big gun was not yet present and the absence of a drop of alcohol was being severely felt all around, “At this juncture Chief Warden Evans arrived, heavily freighted with his Xmas cargo. Greetings. Each man got his lot. My generous friends were Miss Rushe, Maria and Jots Broderick, Mrs. Mahon, Mrs. Carbry, Mgt. Whelen. This gave me an hours reading. Time was flying. I was visited by Thomas Higgins, M. Lardner and John L., Pat Kelly, by others.” At Association the prisoners entertained themselves. “There was considerable fun. The Governor was present part of the time at the recitation. Mason or the Commissariat Officer arrived at this hour with supper and John S. brought the glad tidings of two bottles for ourselves if more came in the morning to divide it, If not to be conservative about supplies. When the order to cells arrived, all marched from Association to welcome the coming day. Supper was served round by Mr. Mason and indeed it was of a very indifferent character. “Christmas wouldn’t be right without a drop of something. Peter ‘attacked number one bottle previously in my box. I boiled a saucepan of water over the gas jet, got sugar and all other essentials for a good tumbler and my efforts were quite successful. I could not but Feel amused even though the gloom and the solitude then around me as I indulged in the illegality of my acts. With ‘United Irishman’ in one hand and John Jameson’s best in the other I thought to drown grief.............. to be continued next time

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