manuscript / I love each sod of Irish earth, Mountjoy, c.1921

Original manuscript poem composed by James Byrne in Mountjoy on the fourth day of his hunger strike, probably around 1921. Record of the late James Byrne, Knockaragh, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow. Former pupil of Rathvilly Boys' Natioanl School. He worked as grocer's assistant in Gilligan's, 70 Ballybough Road, Dublin. He joined the Irish Volunteer Movement in 1913, and took part in the Howth gun running in 1914. He served under Thomas MacDonagh until Good Friday before the Rising on Easter Monday, 1916, when he was arrested and charged with being in possession of Volunteer equipment, for which he served 6 months imprisonment in Mountjoy. When released, he took an active part in organising the Volunteers in Carlow Area. Being "wanted" he was continually "on the run", from 1918 until 1921 when he was arrested again and charged. He was the last political prisoner to be tried by British Courtmartial in Ireland. He was one of the last to be released from Mountjoy after the Treaty. He was tried 3 times during Easter Week, once by Courtmartial in Dublin Castle, and twice in Bridewell under Civil Court. He joined the National Army in 1922. He was Adjutant to the 3rd Battalion Carlow Brigade prior to his arrest in 1921.;