60 148 [ASHE, Thomas] Remember Ashe. By Phil O’Neill. A single leaf broadside, printed on one side with four verses. 21 x 13.5cm. Undated circa 1917. In very good condition.
Thomas Ashe (1885-1917), Republican, was born at Kinard, Lispole, near Dingle, Co. Kerry, the fourth son in a family of seven boys and three girls born to Gregory Ashe, farmer, and his wife Ellen (née Hana- fin). He was educated at Ardmore School and De La Salle Training College, Waterford. After a brief spell teaching at Minard Castle, Co. Kerry, he became a master at Corduff national school near Lusk, Co. Dublin. Active in the Gaelic League and the Irish Volunteers, he supported James Larkin during the Lock-Out in 1913 and was also a close friend of Seán O’Casey. During the Easter Rising he led local Vol- unteers at Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Court-Martialled for his role, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Following the General Amnesty of 1917 he was released and became a leading republican propagandist. He campaigned for De Valera in the East Clare by-election, and was arrested in August and charged with inciting the civil population for which he was sentenced to two years imprisonment. After failing Lot 148 to secure political status for Sinn Féin prisoners in Mountjoy, he organised a hunger-strike and died on 25th September while being forcibly fed.
€200 - 300
149 ASHE, Thomas. Two postcards of Thomas Ashe: In kilted uniform of the Lusk Black Raven Pipe Band, under title ‘Irish Rebellion May 1916’, with description (The Late Thomas Ashe. Leader of the North County Dublin Vol- unteers in the Rising). Sentenced to Death - Sentenced commuted to Penal Servitude for Life. Released Lot 149 in the General Amnesty - re-arrested 18th August, 1917, and sentenced to One Year with hard labour. Died, 25th September, 1917 from effects of Prison Hunger Strike. Published by the Powell Press; Pho- tographic postcards by Keogh Bros. captioned ‘The Late Thomas Ashe / Who gave his life for Ireland’, September 25, 1917. Black border. With: A memorial card in Irish. All in fine condition. (3)
€200 - 300
150 [ASHE, Thomas] Memorial Card of Thomas Ashe who died on 25th September, 1917. Illustrated with a medallion por- trait and containing the last poem of Thomas Ashe ‘Let Me Carry Your Cross!’ written at Lewes Prison. Printed at the City Printing Company in Limerick. 6.5 x 10cm. Four pages folded. Slight wear, otherwise very good. With: Bishop Fogarty’s leaflet ‘The Death of Thomas Ashe’. The Bishop of Killaloe’s Protest, condemning the treatment of Ashe and other prisoners in bitter terms. Rare. (2)
€100 - 200
Lot 150 151 [ASHE, Thomas] Inquest on Thos. Ashe. The Verdict of the Jury. Single sheet printed on one side only. Dublin, Fergus O’Connor, circa 1917. 12.5 x 19cm. A very good copy of a rare republican item. Issued by the nationalist printer Fergus O’Connor immediately after the verdict of the inquest into the death of Thomas Ashe at Mountjoy Jail in Autumn 1917. This publication was probably organised by Sean O’Casey, who was a friend of Ashe, and had some other works of a similar nature published by O’Connor.
€200 - 300
Lot 151 152 [ASHE, Thomas] The Last Poem of Thomas Ashe. Written While a Convict in Lewes Jail. Single sheet, printed on one side only. 12.5 x 19cm. Dublin issued by the nationalist printer Fergus O’Connor immediately after the death of Thomas Ashe in Autumn 1917, possibly in time for his funeral, which was attended by huge crowds. A scarce early issue of this inspiring nationalist poem, which had not yet been given its now familiar title of “Let Me Carry Your Cross For Ireland, Lord”.
€200 - 300 Lot 152