Page 2

There is a charming drawing by Eamon Hayes from 'Belfast and Ballykinlar Internment Camp' in an unidentified autograph book (19 MS 1C25 04) which depicts a group of exotic birds in full colour huddled together talking amongst themselves, with the caption reading: 'More Camp Rumours - I hear we're getting out of the Cage to-morrow'. This relates to the constant hopes the men cherished of being released, and is an excellent example of the finely tuned sense of humour shared by the prisoners, which formed a vital element in their survival.

'More Camp Rumours' from Ballykinlar autograph book (Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Archives)

The autograph book which belonged to Patrick Hayes (19 MS 1C25 10) is filled in completely in Irish, which emphasises the importance the prisoners set on their native language - Irish classes were held in Ballykinlar Camp.

The Kilmainham Ballykinlar Collection includes a copy of a certificate awarded to James Coleman for his Irish studies (19 MS 1D45 24) in the Camp. And what sacrifices did Tomas Ó h-Onan make when he pasted four differently coloured Ballykinlar Internment Camp money tokens into his autograph book (19 MS 1C24 01) valued at 1/-, 6d, 3d and 1d respectively? Each of the tokens has Tomas' prisoner number attached - No 130.

The Barbed Wire Photography essay tells the story of the seriousness with which the prisoners themselves approached the question of remembrance:

The continual hunt for souvenirs by the internees suggested to our photographer that perhaps he could satisfy to some extent the big demand for mementoes of the days spent inside 'the cage'. The laws under which we were forced to live barely permitted us to receive the ordinary necessities of life and a camera was one of the many luxuries which were declared forbidden.

...a substantial home-made cake arrived in the Camp and with the assistance of our representatives in the censoring department it escaped the piercing knife and eye of the military censor. It was a well-made cake and the fact that a small folding camera was one of the principal ingredients did not affect its flavour.

 

Altar set up in prisoners' chapel in Ballykinlar - taken with Ballykinlar camera (Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Archives)

 

With or without the consent of the Medical Officer the chemicals required for developing were found or manufactured in the chemist's laboratory attached to the hospital. A dark-room was easily obtainable as most of the huts were without light from night-fall till morning and after some time we were able to perform any task or odd job in the dark.

...the photographs exhibited here are enlarged reproductions of these same negatives and comparing the size of the negative with the big enlargements will give you an idea of the excellence of the work executed by 'The Ballykinlar Photographer'.