Letter from Fr. E.F. Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916. Letters 1916-1923 Fr E.F. Murnane

This work was originally published by Maynooth University in Ireland in 2017. In 2026 this data, stored in a relational database was extracted and converted into this TEI/XML document.

 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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This letter was written by Fr Murnane on the eve of Roger Casement's execution. He describes how Casement is facing death bravely 'with the added courage and confidence of a good Catholic'. Murnane describes Casement's message to all who supported him and writes that Casement has prayed for all those who tried to help him, in particular Mr. & Mrs. Gavan Duffy. Fr. Murnane also encloses a letter from Casement to Mrs. Gavan Duffy, which, he says, she will treasure. This letter has not survived.George Gavan Duffy, (1882-1951), was an Irish politician, barrister and judge. He unsuccessfully defended Roger Casement (1864-1916) at his trial for high treason after the Easter Rising.Sir Roger Casement was a humanitarian and Irish Nationalist. Casement believed that an Irish insurrection would be crushed unless it received substantial assistance from Germany, and when it became clear that adequate help would not be forthcoming he travelled to Ireland by submarine. Casement landed and was arrested at Banna Strand, County Kerry on Good Friday 1916. He was tried in the Old Bailey for treason and subsequently executed by hanging at Pentonville Prison on 3 August 1916.

 Military Archives of Ireland George Gavan Duffy Collection, BMH CD/45/2/28 https://letters1916.ie/item/48 English Fr E.F. Murnane 1916-08-02 The Presbytery, Dockhead, Bermondsey, London S.E., England. George Gavan Duffy Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 I am enclosing a letter for MrsGavan Duffy. It might fall into unworthy hands or those who would not value it. She will treasure it. The Presbytery, Dockhead, Bermonsey S.E. Aug 2. 1916 My dear Gavan I found your telegram on my return from him. And our last interview will ever remain in my mind and heart. He faced death like a gallant Irish gentleman with the added courage and confidence of a good Catholic. He talked freely of his death and was looking forward to his Confession tonight and his first Holy Communion tomorrow morning He sent grateful messages to all who prayed for him and loved him. That I was to tell all that he died for Ireland and that he wished them to know that, he had no bitterness in his heart for anyone and that he felt that he was being put to death, not for the principles he held but because he was Roger Casement (I think I lost a few words here) He was wonderful, the peace, the tranquillity the courage with which he faced death and talked of it - it was like the last hours of some glorious martyr. And I reminded him of Our Lord's words 'He that shall lose his life for me, shall find it' and that he was one more added to the glorious roll of Irish Martyrs. He bowed his head and made the sign of the Cross as I blessed him and bade him Goodbye till we meet him in Heaven. He hears Mass and makes his first & last Communion at 7 ocl. He had many prayers and tears at our Devotions this Evg. and will have Masses and Communions tomorrow morning. And he will reward by his prayers in heaven you who have fought so bravely and ably to save him and all who tried to help him. My heart is divided between joy and sorrow. With a blessing to you and Mrs. Gavan Duffy and the Children Ever Yours Sincerely E.F.Murnane I have many letters to write in his name. I owe K. £3.6.0 F.Murnane 2/8/1916 The Presbytery, Dockhead, Bermondsey, London S.E., England. Letter from Fr. E.F. Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916. George Gavan Duffy Letter from Fr. E.F. Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916.Letter from J.T. Burns to George Gavan Duffy, 16 October 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe to George Gavan Duffy, 18 April 1916Telegram from P.S. O' Hegarty to George Gavan Duffy, 18 April 1916Telegram from George Gavan Duffy to P.S. O' Hegarty, 18 April, 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to P.S. O'Hegarty, 20 April 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Eoin MacNeill, 20 April 1916Letter from P.S. O'Hegarty to George Gavan Duffy, 24 April 1916Letter from Ernest Blythe to George Gavan Duffy, 12 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Ernest Blythe, 14 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Miss Helen Blythe, 22 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to the Manager, 'Irish Independent', 22 May 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe, Brixton Prison, to George Gavan Duffy, 29 May 1916.Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Messrs Corrigan & Corrigan, 31 July 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Messrs Corrigan & Corrigan, 4 October 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to John O'Connell Esq., LLD, 9 August 1916Letter from Roger Casement to George Gavan Duffy, 30 June 1916Copy of letter from F. O'Donnell to George Gavan Duffy, 4 July 1916Copy of a letter from Serjeant Alex Sullivan to George Gavan Duffy, 4 August 1916Copy of a letter from George Gavan Duffy to Michael F. Doyle, 7 August 1916Letter from John Quinn to George Gavan Duffy, 9 September 1916Letter from Fr F.M. Ryan O.P. to George Gavan Duffy, 12 July 1916Letter from Fr F.M. Ryan O.P. to George Gavan Duffy, 12 July 1916Letter From E. Blackwell to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 3 August 1916Letter from E. Blackwell to George Gavan Duffy, 3 August 1916Letter from G. Gavan Duffy to E. Blackwell, 4 August 1916Letter from Father Edward Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 24 July 1916Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Ernest Blythe, 21 April 1916.Letter from George Gavin Duffy to Joseph Cyrillus Walsh, 6 July 1920 Letter from George Gavan Duffy to Joseph Cyrillus Walsh, 6 July 1920 Fr E.F. Murnane Letter from Fr. E.F. Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 2 August 1916.