In accordance with the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, all political political prisoners were to be released from British custody. With the British Army, the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black and Tans confined to barracks the following scenes were recorded throughout the Free State. This report covers the home-coming of the Carlow I.R.A. men. Six months later, during the Civil War, many of them would take up the gun again but this time against each other. Nationalist, January 1922. Release of Political Prisoners. Enthusiastic Scenes in Carlow. Scenes of great enthusiasm marked the home-coming of the released political prisioners in Carlow, and surrounding districts during the week. Before the arrival of the 8.20 train on Saturday night a large crowd gathered within the area of the Railway Station, and as the train arrived there was a tremendous cheering which was renewed again and again as the ex-political prisoners alighted on the platform. The immediate relatives and friends of the men were the first to extend a hearty welcome, and then the cheering of the vast crowd marked the public appreciation of the sacrifices and hardships which their fellow-townsmen had undergone for their country's freedom. The following released political prisoners arrived on Saturday night :- M. Condren, Brownes Hill ; John Cullen, Brownes Hill ; John Fitzgerald, Brownes Hill ; J. Williams, Staplestown Road ; Martin Byrne, Staplestown Road ; Thomas Sheen, Barrack Street ; Jas. Mooney, Pollerton Road ; Jos. Kenny, Pollerton Road ; ( these were arrested last March and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment ). Thomas Seeley, College Street (arrested November 1920 , sentenced to 18 months ) ; James Corcoran, Graiguecullen ; (arrested October 1920, sentenced to two years ) The above named were serving their terms in Exeter, Wandsworth, Pentonville and other English prisons. William McKenna, Granby Row, who was serving 10 years in Mountjoy, was arrested at Ballymurphy last April. Outside the Railway Station the crowd formed up in processional order, headed by the Carlow Fianna Pipers Band, next came the Carlow Company of Volunteers, Carlow Branch Cumann na mBan, Fianna Eireann (Carlow and Graiguecullen ); St. Fiacc's Band, Graiguecullen , Company Volunteers , Killeshin, Cumann na mBan, Killeshin, Michael Fay Sinn Fein Club, followed by an immense crowd of the general public. The torchlight procession passed along the Dublin Road, Dublin Street, and Tullow Street to the "The Shamrock" where a halt was called ; then back again through Tullow Street and Dublin Street to the Town Hall where Mr Seeley on behalf on himself and his fellow ex-prisoners, thanked the people for the hearty reception they had extended to them. Numerous houses in the town were illuminated, particularly in the streets through which the procession passed. Similar scenes were witnessed on Monday and Tuesday nights on the arrival of other ex-prisoners. The following arrived on Monday night ; James Foley, The Shamrock, T. Dowling, Graiguecullen, L.Shaw, Pollerton Road, Michael Leonard, Tullow Street, all arrested last March and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. They were incarcerated in Pentonville Gaol and were amongst those who visited Roger Casement's grave after their liberation. On Tuesday night Thomas and Michael Behan, Graiguecullen and Michael Ryan , Tullow Street arrived and were accorded a rousing reception. The procession marched through Dublin Road, Dublin Street, Tullow Street, and back again through Castle Street, Coal Market and Church Street to Behan's residence. Mr Quinn, Solicitor, Bagenalstown, in a short but eloquent address thanked the people for the warm welcome accorded to the Behans and Ryan, which he assured them , they greatly appreciated. Graiguecullen was brilliantly illuminated for the occasion, and bon-fires blazed in Coal Market and at the "Croppies Grave" . The brothers Behan and Michael Ryan were sentenced to 10 years in connection with the incident at Ballymurphy. A further demonstration took place on Thursday night , when Sean O'Neill , College Street, arrived home from Dartmoor Convict Prison. Mr O' Neill , who was arrested in November 1920, was tried by court-martial at Belfast for the alleged kidnapping of a railway signalman in Cavan. The huge procession headed by torch-bearers and accompanied by the Carlow Fianna Pipers and Graiguecullen Fife and Drum Band, Companies of Volunteers, Fianna Eireann and Cumann na mBan paraded the town to the ex-prisoner's residence. On arrival there Mr O'Neill thanked the people for their hearty welcome , in Irish and English.