Publication, video and exhibition

Wicklow Gaol Comrades: A Civil War Autograph Book is a collaboration of the Wicklow and Wexford County Council Archive services.  This project commissioned historian Aaron O’ Maonaigh to produce a book, telling the stories of the men held in Wicklow Gaol during the Civil War.  An exhibition and video was also produced.

The project is based on a 1923 prison autograph book, which was donated to Wexford County Archives many years ago. It consists of rhymes, messages, sketches and cartoons, all recalling the men’s humanity, courage and humour in the grim surroundings of Wicklow Gaol, where they faced an uncertain future. The men hailed from Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Kildare, Westmeath and Dublin.

Prisoners' relatives

As part of the project, relatives of the prisoners were traced and were welcomed to Wicklow Gaol on the night of the launch and thanked for their invaluable contributions to the publication, video and exhibition.

This project is one of several Decade of Centenary projects by the Wicklow County Archives service, and was supported by Wicklow and Wexford County Councils and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under their Decade of Centenaries funding.  A special thanks also to the Arts Office of Wicklow County Council for their assistance and support with this project.

Exhibition and video

The exhibition was first displayed in the foyer of Wicklow County Buildings and has then toured Wicklow library branches. The video was produced for the project by mckennacreative.ie and can be viewed on YouTube HERE

Copies of the publication are distributed to libraries, history groups and schools.  For further information, please contact Catherine Wright, Wicklow County Archives at archives@wicklowcoco.ie .  Please see the Ebook version below in two parts: