Letters from prisoners awaiting execution included in new book documenting the Irish Revolution in Wexford

Speaking at the launch, Gráinne Doran, archivist with Wexford County Council (WCC) said the project grew out of a desire to have a lasting physical record in the lead-up to the culmination of the Decade of Centenaries last year. The county archive was involved in a series of commemorative projects for the period including talks, exhibitions, digitisation of revolutionary collections and community events.

"The archive's collection of flags and banners, textiles, artwork, weaponry and prison craftwork has provided a unique and complementary vehicle to archival materials for the better interpretation of this period," she said.

Cathaoirleach of WCC, Councillor Pip Breen said Wexford's Decade of Centenaries commemoration programme (1912-23) has "placed archival collections at the forefront of our understanding of the revolutionary decade and in providing a fresh perspective on past events for academic, local and family history research."

Cllr Breen also congratulated author of the book Aaron Ó Maonaigh for his "thoughtful and meticulous research" in placing each artefact in its historical context at national and local level, and in providing a "sympathetic overview of the men and women who were impacted during the period".

For his part, Mr Ó Maonaigh said the writing of history in recent years "has seen a greater use of alternative sources such as oral testimony and material culture allowing for more varied interpretations and analysis of events" from the revolutionary years.

Copies of Wexford County Archive: 25 objects from the Irish Revolution 1916-23 can be obtained from Wexford County Archive by contacting the archivist on