By Michael Byrne

A Tullamore Schoolboy's Diary of Episodes During the Troubles

P. A. Wrafter, uncle of Paul and Shaun Wrafter, kept a diary relating to Tullamore events. The period 1921-25 is reported on here. For its simplicity and directness, it is very useful. It gives a flavour of what were exciting if dangerous times and times which were sad for Ireland. P. A. Wrafter joined the Williams company in April 1925 at which point the diary concludes. He later became company secretary and died in 19....

A diary by Patrick Wrafter, Church Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, 3rd March 1921.

Michael Hennessy, one of the Cork hunger-strikers, died on the 18th October 1920 after 67 days without food. R.I.P.

Terence McSweeney, Lord Mayor of Cork, died in Brixton Prison on the 25th October 1920, after 74 days without food. R.I.P.

Joseph Murphy, aged 17, died in Cork Prison on 26th October, 1920, after 76 days without food. R.I.P.

Kevin Barry was hanged in Mountjoy Gaol on the 1st November 1920. R.I.P.

Sergeant Cronin, Tullamore, was shot dead in Henry Street on the 31st October 1920. R.I.P. Reprisals followed, resulting in the burning of the I.N.F. Picture Hall.

Curfew was put into force in Tullamore, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the 6th November 1920.

Father Griffin was kidnapped on the 14th November, and was found buried in a bog outside of Galway a week later. R.I.P.

Twelve Officers were shot dead in Dublin Hotels on the 14th November 1920. Later in the day, soldiers opened fire on the people at a football match and killed 18 or more persons. R.I.P.

Joe got his Xmas holidays on 17th December 1920 and went back on 14th January 1921.

Our car ran over Alec Wrafter in William St. on the 15th January - no bones were broke[n].

Started to build the Electric Light Shed over in the The Square on the 3rd January 1921. The same day as we went back to school.

Alo Brennan, Church St., Tullamore, was arrested on the 18th January 1921.

Masked and armed men entered the Post Office in Tullamore on the 20th January 1921 and took away the mails for the R.I.C..

Joseph Murphy of Cork was found not guilty for being in an ambush. He was sentenced to gaol for life.

An aeroplane was burned near Kilfinane by armed and masked men on the 11th February 1921.

Francis Telling, Messrs. Donnelly and Steward escaped from Kilmainham Prison on the 14th February 1921. Francis Telling was to be executed the next day.

Peadar Bracken was arrested in Mucklagh on the 17th February 1921. He was on the run since 1916.

Mr. Bready, Church St., Tullamore died in Dublin on the 20th February 1921. R.I.P.

Father Burbage of Geashill was arrested on the 15th January 1921.

Father Smith of Rahan was arrested on the 25th February 1921.

Fairs and markets and trains were prohibited in Tullamore following the cutting of the roads on the 3rd March 1921.

Father bought Hand's fields out in Ballyduff on the 26th Feb. 1921. He paid £1,775 for it.

Six civilians were executed in Cork Prison for having arms on the 23rd Feb. 1921. R.I.P.

A man named Cornelius Murphy was executed under Martial Law regulation for having arms on the 1 Feb. 1921.

A. Brennan was sentenced to 15 months hard labor for kidnapping J. Hannon on the 5 March 1921.

Nan Gowran and Joe Ryan were married after the holy hour on the 6th March 1921. Joe Ryan went away to America a few days later.

The Mayor and ex-Mayor of Limerick were shot dead in their own homes on 6 March 1921. R.I.P..

Messrs. Whelan, Moran, Flood, Doyle, Bryan and Ryan were executed in Mountjoy Prison on the 15 March 1921. Some of them not guilty.

The train from Kenmare to Hedford was ambushed at Hedford and 9 Crown forces were killed.

Mat (Caine) Kane shot dead while doing his duty on the 1st April 1921. He was a member of the I.R.A..

Most Rev. Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin died on 9th April 1921. R.I.P..

Thomas Traynor of Dublin was executed in Mountjoy Prison on April 16th 1921.

(Sean Allen), Patrick Sullivan, Pat Ronayne, Thomas Mulcahy, and Maurice Moore were executed in Cork Prison on April 28th 1921.

Daniel O'Brien was executed in Cork Prison on the 17th May 1921, for having a revolver. R.I.P.

Rev. Father O'Callaghan was shot dead by armed men in the house of Ald. De Roiste on the 15th May 1921.

The Custom House, Dublin was set on fire and destroyed by the I.R.A. on the 25th May 1921.

Thomas Keane was executed in Limerick on the 4th June 1921. R.I.P.

Edward Foley and Patrick Maher were executed in Mountjoy Prison on the 7th of June 1921. R.I.P.

Mr. D. E. Williams died on the 2nd July 1921. R.I.P.

Peace Conference started on July the 3rd 1921, in the Mansion House, Dublin.

Mr. D. E. Williams, Tullamore died on the 3rd July 1921 aged 72 years. R.I.P.

At least 80 prisoners escaped from the Rath Camp, Curragh by a subterranean tunnel 50 ft. long dug by themselves with pieces of iron etc. Sept. 1921.

Joe went to the bank in Mullingar on 13th October 1921.

Electric light was lit in the streets and houses on September the 27, 1921.

Truce declared in Ireland in July 1921.

James J. Daly, Tyrrellspass, Westmeath executed in India in connection with a mutiny against the treatment of his friends in Ireland. 2nd November 1921. All Souls Day.

Peace signed in Dublin in Dec. 1921.

A. Brennan came home from Hull Prison on 14th Jan. 1922.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XV died at 6 a.m. on Sunday 22nd Jan. 1922. R.I.P.

M. Collins took possession of Dublin Castle on Jan. 6th 1922.

Cardinal Ratti elected Pope Pius XI on Feb. 6th 1922.

Ard Feis Meeting was held in Dublin on Feb. 21, 1922.

Tullamore Gaol was taken over by the I.R.A. on Feb. 28th 1922. Athlone Barracks taken over the same day.

Tullamore barrack taken over by the I.R.A. on the 7th March 1922.

Brigadier Adamson a F.S. soldier was shot dead in Athlone on the 25th of April 1922. R.I.P.

Ormonde Castle and various other buildings in Kilkenny which were occupied by the Executive forces, were stormed and captured by the F.S. forces. May 3rd 1922.

Truce declared in the Mansion between the Republicans and the treatyites on May 4th 1922.

War started in Dublin between the Free State soldiers and the republicans, during which the Four Courts was destroyed. The fighting lasted 4 days when the republicans surrendered. Fighting started throughout the country.

M. Collins was killed in an ambush near Bandon by the republicans Aug. 1922. J. Mulcahy was made C.I.C.

A. Griffit [sic] died in Dublin about a week before M. Collins. Was succeeded by W. Cosgrove. R.I.P.

Various executions took place by the Free Staters on the bolshies having been found with arms.

A big fight took place in Dublin on St. Patrick's night 1923 between McTigue the Irishman and Battling Siki the black in which McTigue won on points.

Started to build the Forster's Picture Hall in the square, May 1923.

Joe got new motor bike, Royal Enfield, £50, on May 26th 1923. Kilbeggan Races May 28th.

Feis in Mountmellick Sunday 10th June 1923. ..cool hurled Port Laoighse, resulted with a draw, 2 goals each.

Intermediate examination in Convent School 2 June 1923.
Passed Junior Grade Examination 12th Sept. 1923.

Elections held August 27th 1923. F. Bulfin and P. Egan elected for Offaly.

Grandmother in Ballyduff died at 2.20 pm Friday the 13th February 1925. R.I.P. Funeral on Sunday the 15th Feb. to Durrow. Very large crowd laid offerings, the amount obtained being £31.8.0.

I was out playing football same evening in Ballyduff, and never heard about it until I came home.

Went to work in D. E. Williams' Head Office on Mon. 20th April 1925. St. Columba's College reopened same day after the Easter Holidays. Began work at the Stocks Department at 30/- per week.

[The following entries appear to be additional, if similar, entries:]

The pope, Benedidict XV died on Sunday 22nd January 1922.

Alo Brennan was released from Hull Prison on 13th January 1922. Arrived home on Saturday 14th.

6th December: Irish peace signed in London at 2 am. Terms published on the 7th.

3rd December: The men in Williams Egans and Goodbodys shops and yards went out on strike.
Kevin Barry was hanged All Saints day, November 1st 1920.

21st November: 14 British officers shot dead in Dublin, police attacked Croke Park, 12 civilians were shot dead.

January 3rd 1921, The electric light shed was started.

Francis Teeling and two other prisoners escaped from Kilmainham gaol 13th February 1921.

28th February 1921: 6 men shot dead in Cork prison for having arms and amunition.

26th February 1921: Father bought 23 acres of Hand's land, Ballyduff, paid £1775-0-0.

March 15th 1921: 6 men hanged in Mountjoy prison.

April 1st 1921: Lieut Matt Kane IRA was shot dead by crown forces.

April 8th 1921: Did my first piece of fretwork.

Monday, October 3rd 1921: I went to Dublin and came home on 6th October.

Friday, 15th September 1921: Mother and Father went to Llandudno for a fortnights holidays and stayed a week in Dublin.