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Thurs 4th May 1916 Dearest Wife We are going to be tried today. I am afraid
it is all up with me. Oh Vera won't you pray for
me. I love you. I am breaking my heart.
I hope poor Tom is alive. I heard he was
shot. I know it will be hard on you
but bear it bravely for the Love of God.
I can't write any more. Remember me to Dear Lily Annie Jennie
and your poor mother also Anne and mammy.
It is a hard life
But this is not our home Goodbye and God Bless you
Your devoted husband
till death Jim Pray for me
and get all the
Church St people
to pray for me
A letter from JJ (also known as Jim, James, or Seamus) Brennan to his wife Vera, written
in Kilmainham Gaol on 4th May 1916. In this letter, James writes to inform Vera of
his impending trial. He believes that he is to be executed. The Tom referred to in
the letter was his cousin who died during the fighting. He had been married the previous
year (23 Aug) and his wife was expecting their first child. Lily, Annie and Jennie
were my grandmother’s sisters while the second Annie mentioned was his own sister.
“Church Street people” refers to the Capuchin Friary in Church Street, where he was
a member of the ‘Third Order’.He was 25 years of age when he fought under Sean Heuston
in the Mendicity Institution in 1916. Brennan was tried at Richmond Barracks and sentenced
to death. The sentence was commuted to penal servitude and he was released in June
1917. His first born son was then 1 year old, having been born on 17 June 1916. The
couple, who went on to have five further children (one of whom was my mother) had
a long and happy life. He was one of the founder members of the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration
Society and served as its secretary for many years. He died in 1975.