“Report of the Irish National Aid and Volunteer Dependents Fund."

“Report of the Irish National Aid and Volunteer Dependents Fund."

The Catholic Bulletin. Vol. IX

August, 1919

Even as the Easter Rising was taking place, funds were already being raised by multiple organizations to support participants and their dependents. The British roundup of thousands following the Rising created destitute families and unemployed ex-prisoners upon their release. Tens of thousands of pounds were raised in Ireland and from the Irish diaspora. Two of the organizations, the Irish National Society and the Volunteer Dependents’ Fund, merged, and Michael Collins became general secretary of the Fund for about fifteen months from February 1917 until April 1918. The detailed audit provided in this report shows 138,000 pounds was spent on aid in the prior three years, the equivalent of well over $7.5 million in today’s money.