INDEPENDENCE

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Pádraic Mac Piarais [P.H. Pearse], signatory of the 1916 Proclamation An important collection of five ALS and one incomplete letter, 1907-1914, mostly in Irish, mostly to 'A chara croidhe' [Dear...

Pádraic Mac Piarais [P.H. Pearse], signatory of the 1916 Proclamation An important collection of five ALS and one incomplete letter, 1907-1914, mostly in Irish, mostly to 'A chara croidhe' [Dear Friend], i.e. Pádhraic ó Conghaile [Patk. Connolly] of Maam Cross, Co. Galway, with one to his son Prionnsias [Frank]. Pádhraic ó Conghaile and his wife were teachers at Gortmore National School in Rosmuc, near the site of Pearse's holiday cottage. Before acquiring his own cottage Pearse often stayed with them, and ó Conghaile evidently supervised work at the cottage and looked after it in Pearse's absence. O Conghaile's son Prionnsias was a pupil at Pearse's school Sgoil Eanna [St. Enda's] between 1908 and 1910, and later stayed at the school while attending university. All the letters are unpublished, as follows: - ALS in English, 2.8.1907, 1 pp on notepaper of An Claidheamh Solais [the Gaelic League paper edited by Pearse], making arrangements to meet Frank in Galway, etc. - ALS in Irish, 27.6.1909, 4 pp on Sgoil Eanna notepaper, concerning 'an tighe mí-ádhsaigh úd' [that unfortunate house]. He is coming down at the weekend with his sister and a boy from the school, and must stay at the house even if unfinished, so he is asking Máirtín [the workman] to delay the plastering work until later, to apply a coat of whitewash and instal the doors, windows and furniture which Pearse is sending down, etc.; also mentions Frank Jr.'s excellent progress at school. - ALS in Irish, 26.11.1908, 2 pp on Sgoil Eanna notepaper, enclosing Frank's school account, can be paid as and when convenient, says he is making excellent progress, he could be ready to sit the Matriculation in the autumn but it might be wiser to wait a year, etc.; he [Pearse] has been busy and has done nothing about the [Rosmuc] house recently, has not ordered the wood, doubtless Mairtín Labhráis is 'ar buile liom' [angry with me], etc. - AL in Irish, 28.10.1909, incomplete (first page only, no signature but undoubtedly in Pearse's hand, on Sgoil Eanna notepaper), torn one side with some loss, another tear repaired, but an interesting fragment, regretting that 'An Dochtúir Mac Ei[nrí]' [Dr. Henry] did not get the position in Galway. 'Is fearr go mór é ná an fear eile. Ní bheidh aon mheas ag muinntir na Gaillimhe ar an Máilleach' [He is much better than the other man. The Galway people will have no respect for O Máille]. Dr. Henry is probably Seán Henry, a friend of Pearse and author of a well-known Handbook of Modern Irish; O Maille is presumably Tomás ó Máille, a distinguished scholar, professor of Irish at UCG. - ALS in Irish, 14.9.1910, 1 pp on Sgoil Eanna notepaper, to Prionnsias, enclosing a testimonial as requested, regretting his departure (from Sgoil Eanna), mentioning the school's new premises etc. 'Tá go leor buachaillí nua annso, acht b'fhearr liom mo shean-chairde.' [There are a lot of new boys here, but I prefer old friends]. With associated envelope, and with the testimonial mentioned, in English, 1 pp on Sgoil Eanna notepaper, signed P.H. Pearse, Head Master. 'Thomas Francis Connolly .. is a boy of sterling and well-developed character .. We have found him truthful, sincere, obedient, and singularly free from the ordinary schoolboy vices.. His abilities are above the average, and his industry most commendable.' [Frank went on to become a Professor in the Veterinary College in Ballsbridge.] - ALS in Irish, 25.6.1914, 1 pp, from Sgoil Eanna, to Padhraic, to say he and some friends wish to go to 'an teach mí-ádhmharach úd' [that unfortunate house] as soon as possible. He is sorry to trouble them, but his sister says they are putting a new roof on the house, and he wishes to know when the roof will be finished and what it will cost; also enquires what other money he owes. 'Caithfidh mé mo chuid fiacha a ghlanadh, nó is dóigh nach leigfear dom cos a chur i gConamara.' [I must clear my debts, or I will not be allowed to set foot in Connemara]. A fine collection, which throws much light on Pearse's affairs, notably his difficulties with the 'unfortunate house' in Rosmuc. Except for the incomplete letter, in excellent condition; entirely unpublished and unrecorded. O Buachalla, in his Letters of Pearse, locates only one short letter to Frank Connolly junior. Single letters from Pearse are still to be found, but a coherent collection such as this is very unusual.

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