LIAM O'MEARA,
Sir, - In Tim Pat Coogan's latest book, 1916: the Easter Rising, the author states that "Asquith visited Dublin and saw the prisoners in Richmond Barracks, now Griffith Barracks." This information is inaccurate.
It is not the first time an author of note has given us strange facts about the events of Easter week. In the introduction to Selected Poems of Francis Ledwidge (New Island Books 1992), Seamus Heaney informed us that Thomas McDonagh and Joseph Mary Plunkett were executed at Arbour Hill! Perhaps he was just trying to make history rhyme.
Mr Coogan has his barracks mixed up. There was once a penitentiary called Richmond situated on the South Circular Road. This later became Griffith Barracks. However, the people arrested in the aftermath of the 1916 rising, some 3,000 in all, including 77 women, were all taken to Inchicore to Richmond Barracks - a different place altogether.
Most of Richmond Barracks was demolished between 1968 and 1969. Three units survive, two of which comprise the old recreation rooms where Francis Ledwidge often read his poems to the troops. The other unit is the gymnasium where the 1916 leaders and other prominent figures were brought. All three buildings are today in use as the CBS National School. Unit three is still used as a gymnasium by the boys and the walls have commemorative portraits of each of the 15 men executed. A wall plaque unveiled by Eamon de Valera records some of the names of those held here awaiting court martial.
In fairness to Mr Coogan, this mistake is often made and because of the confusion few people ever come to Inchicore to view this historic building. I hope that now they will. - Yours, etc.,
LIAM O'MEARA,
Chairman,
Inchicore Ledwidge Society,
Dublin 10.