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Poster, 'Executions: was this the will of the people of Clare?' 'Vote for De Valera', featuring images of five Claremen executed in 1923.
Poster, ‘Executions: was this the will of the people of Clare?’ ‘Vote for De Valera’, featuring images of five Claremen executed in 1923: Con McMahon, Patrick Hennessy, Patrick Mahony, Christopher Quinn and William Shaughnessy.
During the Irish Civil War (1922-1923), 77 anti-treaty IRA were executed by the pro-treaty Irish Free State across Ireland. Five Claremen were executed, either in Limerick Gaol or Ennis in 1923 and these men are remembered on this poster. The executed men were Cornelius McMahon, Patrick Hennessy, Patrick Mahony, Christopher Quinn and William Shaughnessy. The policy of executing anti-treaty IRA members helped to bring the Irish Civil War to an end, but it left a legacy of bitterness that lasted decades, as can been seen from a blog-post about the last letters of Patrick Hennessy on our website.
It is though that this poster dates from the Irish General Election 27th August, 1923. Eamon de Valera was a prominent anti-treaty leader during the Irish Civil War.
The donor, Kevin Rynne, came across this document in the family home following the death of his mother. It had been the property of his father Michael Rynne (1922-1975), and is believed to have been collected by him.
Collection: Kevin Rynne
Category: Communication Equipment