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223 JOSEPH BRENNAN’S COPY THOM’S OFFICIAL DIRECTORYof the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the year 1917. Dublin, Alex Thom 1917. Very thick tall 8vo, pp. 2272, 60 (adverts). Cover a little marked
but an excellent copy. Stamped on title page, ‘Supplied for the Crown Service’; inscribed inside front cover, ‘Private Sec. to U. Sec, 13.3.17’. The list on p. 750
identifies the Under-Secretary for Ireland as Sir William P. Byrne and his Private Secretary as J[oseph] Brennan B.A.
Joseph Brennan [1887-1963] was a career public servant and one of the ablest men of his generation. Born in Bandon, Co. Cork, he obtained a double first class
degree at Cambridge University, and entered the Civil Service in 1911, transferring a year later to the Chief Secretary’s Office in Dublin Castle, in the financial
section. In 1920 he worked on financial aspects of the Government of Ireland Act. During the Truce he got to know his fellow Corkman Michael Collins, and he
became adviser on financial matters to the Treaty negotiators. In 1922 Collins asked him to set up the financial system of the new Irish Free State. In 1923 he
became Secretary of the Dept. of Finance, in 1927 Chairman of the Currency Commission, and in 1942 first Governor of the Central Bank. In the early years of
the Free State he was more influential than many Ministers.
A fascinating association copy.
€ 200 - 250