Poster of an order prohibiting the sale of firearms in Ireland, 1917

Poster printed by Falconer, Dublin, Ireland, 1917.

The poster contains an order issued during World War One (1914-1918) by Lieutenant-General Sir Bryan Thomas Mahon, Commander-in-Chief, Ireland, representing the 'Competent Military Authority'. The order, dated 31 March 1917, aimed to prevent Irish Republican forces obtaining weaponry to use against the forces of the Crown.

The order prohibits 'the manufacture, sale, purchase, transfer, or disposal of firearms, parts of firearms, military arms, parts of military arms, air guns and air rifles, ammunition (including sporting ammunition for use in shotguns) or explosive substances or any class thereof, within the area of Ireland'.

Born in County Galway, Sir Bryan Thomas Mahon (1862-1930) was a British Army officer who served with 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars. He was a veteran of the 2nd Sudan War (1896-1899) and the Boer War (1899-1902). Mahon was Commander-in-Chief, Ireland from 1916 until 1918, when he was replaced by Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Shaw.