Limerick Archives launches Sean Wall Family Archive and exhibition

A new online exhibition and digital archive highlighting Limerick’s role in the War of Independence has been launched by Limerick City and County Council Archives Service. The exhibition is based on the Sean Wall Family Archive, a valuable collection of material relating to Limerick East Brigade leader Sean Wall and his extended family.

The material has been held by the family since he was shot dead while on active duty in May 1921 and was donated last year to the Council for preservation as part of the Decade of Centenaries commemoration.

It is now fully listed and digitised, and several resources – essays, interview videos and more – have been created; details here.

Sean Wall led the East Limerick Brigade, one of the first Flying Columns during the War of Independence. Throughout his tenure as Chairman of Limerick County Council, he was on the run from British authorities, and proved an effective manager and organiser and fundraised thousands of pounds for the Dáil Loan Scheme.

His brother, Fr. Tom Wall, was also an influential figure in nationalist and republican circles in Limerick, having founded the first Irish Volunteer branch in Limerick, while another brother, Bill Wall, was another IRA activist and took part in key engagements with the East Limerick brigade.

The virtual exhibition will mark the centenary of Sean Wall’s death, but a public exhibition about him is planned when public health restrictions allow.