Edition 268 of Century Ireland with all the news from 100 years ago.

The main stories include:

Thousands join hunger strikes across Irish prison system
Government takes hard-line and refuses to contemplate political prisoner releases
Dublin, 30 October 1923
About 8,500 prisoners are now believed to be on hunger strike across the Free State's crisis-afflicted prisons.

Front cover illustration of 'Le Petit Journal illustre', depicting hunger strikers in Mountjoy Jail refusing food from prison officers. Photo: Le Petit Journal illustré, 28 October 1923
Front cover illustration of 'Le Petit Journal illustre', depicting hunger strikers in Mountjoy Jail refusing food from prison officers.
Photo: Le Petit Journal illustré, 28 October 1923

Free State to cut national school teachers’ salaries by 10%
Dublin, 31 October 1923
There is widespread anger in Irish educational circles after it was disclosed that the Free State government plans to cut the salaries of national school teachers by 10 per cent.

Teachers and pupils from Kilglass National School, Ahascragh, Co. Galway, c. 1902. Photo: National Library of Ireland, CLON486
Teachers and pupils from Kilglass National School, Ahascragh, Co. Galway, c. 1902.
Photo: National Library of Ireland, CLON486

Oath of allegiance preventing return of northern refugees to their homes
Dublin, 19 October 1923
The Northern Ireland government has refused a request to allow 'refugees’ from the north in the Free State to return to their homes without a guarantee that they will swear an oath of allegiance.

While a group of Journalists get their picture with their hosts, Sir James and Lady Craig at Stormont Castle, republican 'refugees' in the Free State claim they have been denied the right to return to their homes in the six counties without swearing an oath of allegiance. Photo: Irish Life, November 1923
While a group of Journalists get their picture with their hosts, Sir James and Lady Craig at Stormont Castle, republican 'refugees' in the Free State claim they have been denied the right to return to their homes in the six counties without swearing an oath of allegiance.
Photo: Irish Life, November 1923

Sinn Féin Ard Fheis recommits to securing international recognition for independent republic
Strikes, boycotts and plebiscites among strategies considered to advance case for prisoner releases
Dublin 18 October 1923
The aim of Sinn Féin is to secure international recognition of Ireland as an independent Republic, was confirmed yesterday at the party’s Ard Fheis in Dublin.

Snapshots of Delegates to the Sinn Féin in Dublin arriving at the Mansion House: - (Left to right) (1) Count Plunkett (right) with a friend; (2- centre) Mr. Dan Breen, T.D., who was recently released from prison; and (3) Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington accompanied by Mr. O h-Uadhaigh, solicitor.
Snapshots of Delegates to the Sinn Féin in Dublin arriving at the Mansion House
(Left to right) (1) Count Plunkett (right) with a friend; (2- centre) Mr. Dan Breen, T.D., who was recently released from prison; and (3) Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington accompanied by Mr. O h-Uadhaigh, solicitor.

Attorney General Hugh Kennedy elected TD in Dublin by-election
Dublin 26 October 1923
The Free State’s Attorney General, Mr. Hugh Kennedy, K.C., has been returned as a TD for Cumann na mGaedhael at the South Dublin by-election, defeating his anti-treaty republican rival, Mr. Michael O’Mullane yesterday.

Hugh Kennedy addressing an election rally from a podium on St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 1923. Photo: National Library of Ireland, NLI, KEN7
Hugh Kennedy addressing an election rally from a podium on St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 1923.
Photo: National Library of Ireland, NLI, KEN7

"I have got a wife for every man that has come to me" - Clones match-making case dismissed in Court
Clones, 19 October 1923
A case arising from a match-making arrangement that went wrong was dismissed on the 17th of October before a Clones court on where the quarter sessions were being heard.

The Diamond, Clones 1910 Photo: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, D2886/W/Portrait/53
The Diamond, Clones 1910Photo: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
D2886/W/Portrait/53

No prospect of Irish soccer unity until the principle of equality accepted, Dublin meeting is told
Dublin, 27 October 1923
The Football Association of Ireland had achieved a great victory in securing international status for Irish soccer, a well-attended meeting of the Association in Dublin was informed last night.

For more from Century Ireland, visit rte.ie/centuryireland

Keywords:
1923