The collection contains a vast array of documentation relating to the activities of the East Limerick Brigade during the War of Independence, both day-to-day organisation and military engagements involving the brigade. The material documents the logistical problems of running an amateur guerrilla army with extremely limited resources. It also paints a picture of the efforts made to maintain morale during the Truce of 1921. The collection includes a weekly British intelligence report by Major General Strickland (P46/2/1) providing a comprehensive account of the state of Ireland in February 1921. The report was captured by the East Limerick Brigade in 1921 and was slightly damaged by the British forces in an effort to burn it before it fell into enemy hands. Other documents of interest in the collection include the announcement of the Truce in July 1921 signed by Ernie O’Malley (P46/1/3/1/3), and an order issued by O’Malley of the steps to be taken in the event of the collapse of the Treaty talks and the resumption of hostilities (P46/1/2/2/12).

This collection contains invoices, receipts and some related correspondence from wholesalers, specialist providers and other commercial outlets mainly in Limerick city and county, but also in Dublin and England accrued by John McCarthy in his role as farmer, publican and baker. The documents date from the time of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) and Irish Civil War (1922-1923) and reveal the way in which these conflicts interfered with commerce and trade and the availability of certain goods such as sugar and flour. It also provides insights into the commercial life of the country in its first years of independence, the cost of goods, the range of commercial outlets available and the rise of the large department stores.

The collection comprises papers relating to C Company 2nd Limerick City Battalion Mid Limerick Brigade 1917-1924 and includes narrative accounts of the Brigade activities during the War of Independence and information on the reorganisation of the Limerick Brigades during and following the Civil War. The collection is unusual as the anti-Treaty IRA was considered to be an illegal organisation and their records as a consequence were usually kept secret.