With the Irish in Frongoch

For eight months following the Easter Rising over 1,800 Irish rebels were imprisoned in Frongoch, a former whiskey distillery in North Wales. It soon became a University of Revolution and among its notable alumni were Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy. By December 1916 all the Irish prisoners had been repatriated and the camp was closed. Frongoch had initially held German prisoners-of-war but became much more high profile when the Irish rebels were interned there. Most of them were interned without any trial or chance to defend themselves, and many who had not been initially supportive of the rebel cause were converted during their internment. This contemporary account of life in the camp was an important part of the propaganda to win support for the nationalist cause in the lead-up to the War of Independence.

W. J. Brennan-Whitmore was a Wexford journalist and British Army veteran who joined Sinn Féin in 1910. Because of his military knowledge he was appointed to the Volunteers general staff in the lead-up to the Easter Rising. He commanded a position in North Earl Street during the Rising, and was interned with 1,800 other Irish rebels in Frongoch. He later worked for Michael Collins during the War of Independence and supported the Treaty. He retired from the Irish Army in 1926. He was an active member of Clannna Poblachta. He died in 1977 at the age of 91.