Can you place following in context? Bureau of Military History Appendix to C.D. Register Individual documents included in collections Page 435C.D. 20. Name of Donor Leopold H. Kerney Group 55 ECONOMIC PROPOSALS 1924. Memo by Michael Comyn with enclosure 7.1.1924. Letter, 8.3.1924, to R. Barton from Sean T. 0’Ceallaigh , with enclosure entitled “Labour & our Economic Programme”. Letter, 13.3.1924, from Maire Nic Shuibhne (Mary MacSwiney) expressing appreciation and thanks on behalf of Comhairle na dTeactai for Economic Programme. Economic Programme o f Sinn Fein , undated – 2 copies. Poblacht na hSireann – Democratic Programme – undated. “The National Aspirations of the Irish People” presented by the delegates of the workers of Ireland to the “International” . Memo by Countess Markievicz on the Democratic Programme. Fiscal Power of the Irish Free State – undated, unsigned. A “Labour Policy ” for the Irish State – undated, unsigned.

Michael Comyn KC (1871–1952) was an Irish barrister, republican activist, and politician born in Ballyvaughan, County Clare. He played a significant role in the Irish independence movement, particularly through his involvement with Sinn Féin during and after the War of Independence (1919–1921). Comyn was instrumental in establishing the Dáil Courts, the republican judicial system that operated parallel to British courts, including setting up one of the first such courts in Ballinrobe, South Mayo, in 1919. He stood as a Sinn Féin candidate in elections, served as a Fianna Fáil Senator from 1928 to 1936, and later became a Circuit Court judge. Known for his commitment to Irish nationalism, he also had diverse interests, including prospecting and legal cases tied to republican causes, such as the Clifford and O’Sullivan land dispute.

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The excerpt you provided appears to be a direct transcription from the Appendix to the Contemporary Documents (C.D.) Register of Ireland’s Bureau of Military History (BMH), specifically from page 435 under C.D. 264 (not C.D. 20, which may be a minor transcription error). The BMH was established in 1947 by the Irish government to collect oral histories, witness statements, and original documents related to the revolutionary period from 1913 to 1921, though some materials extend into the early 1920s. The Contemporary Documents series preserves primary sources like letters, memos, and programs from that era, organized into collections (C.D. numbers) donated by participants or their families. This particular entry falls under Group 55, titled “ECONOMIC PROPOSALS 1924,” within the collection donated by Robert C. Barton (a prominent republican and former Minister for Economic Affairs in the First Dáil), not Leopold H. Kerney (who donated other groups in the BMH, such as materials on his diplomatic work in Paris).

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Historical Context: This group of documents dates to early 1924, a pivotal time in post-independence Ireland following the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921), the establishment of the Irish Free State (1922), and the bitter Civil War (1922–1923) between pro-Treaty forces (who formed Cumann na nGaedheal) and anti-Treaty republicans (led by Sinn Féin under Éamon de Valera). The Civil War had ended in May 1923 with a ceasefire, leaving anti-Treaty Sinn Féin in opposition, boycotting the Free State Dáil, and focused on rebuilding its platform. Economic policy became a key battleground, as republicans sought to critique the Free State’s conservative fiscal approach and propose alternatives emphasizing protectionism, self-sufficiency, and social justice to appeal to workers, farmers, and nationalists.

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Sinn Féin released its official “Economic Programme” in March 1924, a pamphlet outlining policies like tariffs on imports, state support for industries, land redistribution, and labor rights. It drew on earlier revolutionary ideals, such as the 1919 Democratic Programme of the First Dáil (a socialist-leaning manifesto promising economic equality and resource control for the Irish people). The 1924 proposals were part of a broader effort to reposition Sinn Féin as a viable alternative to the Free State government, though they were criticized as vague and incomplete, focusing more on rhetoric than detailed implementation.

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The documents in Group 55 reflect internal discussions and contributions to this program:

• Memo by Michael Comyn with enclosure (7 January 1924): Comyn, leveraging his legal and republican background, likely offered insights on economic or fiscal matters, possibly drawing from his experience in republican governance or land issues (given his involvement in agrarian disputes).
• Letter to R. Barton from Seán T. O’Ceallaigh (8 March 1924), with enclosure “Labour & our Economic Programme”: O’Ceallaigh (later President of Ireland, 1945–1959) was a key Sinn Féin diplomat. The letter to Barton (who had resigned as Treaty signatory and joined the anti-Treaty side) enclosed labor-focused proposals, highlighting efforts to integrate workers’ rights into the republican agenda.
• Letter from Máire Nic Shuibhne (Mary MacSwiney) (13 March 1924): MacSwiney, a staunch republican and sister of hunger striker Terence MacSwiney, thanked the Comhairle na dTeachtaí (Sinn Féin executive) for the program, underscoring party unity.
• Economic Programme of Sinn Féin (undated, 2 copies): Likely drafts or copies of the March 1924 pamphlet.
• Poblacht na hÉireann – Democratic Programme (undated): A reference to the 1919 Dáil’s foundational document, emphasizing sovereignty and economic democracy.
• “The National Aspirations of the Irish People”: A labor delegation’s statement to international bodies, linking Irish independence to workers’ global struggles.
• Memo by Countess Markievicz on the Democratic Programme: Constance Markievicz, revolutionary and first female cabinet minister (Labour in the Dáil), commented on updating the 1919 program.
• Fiscal Power of the Irish Free State (undated, unsigned): Analyzed the Free State’s limited economic autonomy under the Treaty.
• A “Labour Policy” for the Irish State (undated, unsigned): Proposed policies for workers in an independent Ireland.

These materials were preserved by Barton, who as a former economic minister collected them during policy formulation. They illustrate Sinn Féin’s attempt to blend nationalism with economic radicalism in a fractured post-Civil War landscape, though the party struggled with organization and electoral success until de Valera’s split to form Fianna Fáil in 1926.

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Comyn’s involvement fits his profile as a Sinn Féin supporter active in the 1920s, contributing to policy amid ongoing republican debates. If you’d like more details on specific documents (many BMH items are digitized online) or Comyn’s other activities, let me know!

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