The Galway Branch of the Sinn Féin Organisation was founded at the Kearns Hotel February 15 1907. Dr Ryan was elected President and Mr Louis E. ODea, Solicitor, was elected Vice President. The Irish Volunteer’s Galway base was 10 Williamsgate Street, Galway.
Archival History ↴
The material was deposited with Galway County Library in circa the 1980s (provenance unknown) and transferred to the Archives Section in 2013.
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Official Transfer
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Sinn Féin, Galway Branch ↴
File of material relating to the establishment of the branch, includes copy book with handwritten minutes of the Galway Branch Sinn Féin Organisation (15 Feb 1907 – 4 Mar 1907), together with three handwritten letters on National Council headed paper, 11 Lower O’Connell Street, Dublin, to the Galway Branch, regarding Sinn Féin pamphlets and the Council’s granting of affiliation to the Galway branch; ‘Wishing your Branch an energetic and prosperous career’ (9 Mar 1911), and also advising that Mr Arthur Griffith ‘cannot say definitely Mr Edward Martyn of Tilyra (Tullira) Castle is at home now and might be available’ (16 Mar 1911). Also includes a blank membership card which includes details of the National Council’s Constitution and Rules, and Principles and Policy, stating for instance ‘That the people of Ireland are a free people, and that no law made without their authority or consent is, or ever can be, binding on their conscience’.
The minutes record that ‘At an inaugural meeting at Kearn’s Hotel on Monday night Feb 15 1907 a Branch of the Sinn Féin organisation was formed’ , also includes results of the election of officers and committee, and details of ‘Rules; which include for instance ‘That the branch be called the Galway Branch of the National Council,’ and ‘That no member of the British armed forces or pension or therefrom shall be eligible for membership nor shall any person who has otherwise taken an oath of allegiance to the British crown be admissible as a ember so long as he shall retain the office involving the oath’ (p2).
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Arrangement ↴
The collection is arranged chronologically
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
Available online at http://www.galway.ie/digitalarchives/. Unrestricted access. The material in this collection is available to all bona fide researchers by appointment only, and subject to the conditions of access governing the consultation of archival material at Galway County Council Archives.
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No material may be reproduced from this collection without the written permission of the archivist, and reproductions are subject to the conditions of access.
Available online at http://www.galway.ie/digitalarchives/
Related Material
Irish Volunteers, Galway City Corps: File, 1914, GS13/02 and
Irish Volunteers, Galway City Corps Minutes, 1914, GS01/03 also held by GCCA.
Publication Note
See online exhibition featuring items from this and related collections held by Galway County Council Archives
http://www.galway.ie/en/services/more/archives/exhibitions/
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Patria McWalter
Rules/Conventions
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottowa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
