Letter from Seaghan Z. to Séamus (James Ryan), 18 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Seaghan Z.

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The letter is written by a friend, Seaghan Z., to James Ryan (1891-1970). Seaghan was also imprisoned after the Rising and the letter is written from Wandsworth Prison to Stafford detention camp, where Ryan was held. The writer refers to some of his fellow prisoners and mentions a visit from Min (Josephine Mary Ryan), a sister of James Ryan. He complains about the strict conditions in Wandsworth, stating that they are much less so in other places. He also mentions that a number of prisoners have been transferred to Frongach detention camp in Wales (where Ryan would eventually be sent) and that he was unsure if we would also be sent there.James Ryan studied medicine in UCD. He was appointed chief medical officer in the GPO during the Easter Rising. After the Rising he was imprisoned in Stafford and, later, Frongoch and was released in August 1916. Ryan was later a founder member of Fianna Fáil and a government minister.

 University College Dublin Archives Dr James Ryan Papers, P 88/3 https://letters1916.ie/item/222 English Seaghan Z. 1916-07-16 Wandsworth, London, England Séamus (James) Ryan Stafford, England Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Wandsworth, London, 18-6-16 A Shéamuis Dhílis Thanks for your letter. I was glad to get it and to learn you were in great form. Gearoid says you have an infernal cheek to be traducing his character in such a fashion. Anyhow he is completely reformed now. He hasn't touched a drop for nearly two months and as for O'Brien he is in one respect at all events a perfect model, the poor boy has now left us. He and Cole with about 70 others went off on Friday last to an internment camp at Frongoch, Balla, N. Wales. Twenty more are following them tomorrow and the rest of us — about another 70 — expect to be removed from here a day or two later. We don't know yet if we are all going to the same camp, some of the authorities here say yes and some say no. We must only wait and find out. I do trust we will be all together wherever we go. It would be so very pleasant to see all the old faces together again. Min came over to London Friday morning and came up here that day and yesterday too with B.D. and one of the Lynch's. I was very glad to see herself and the others. Fr. Paul by special permit from the War Office got in to see me today and we had twenty minutes or so together. I expect to see him again tomorrow. She intends to go on to Stafford, Knutsford, and Wales maybe on her way back so I hope she will see yourself and Michael. By all accounts the prisoners in all the other places seem to enjoy better treatment and greater liberty than we do here. We have only four hours at very most together daily and even then cannot smoke, and if a fellow was heard whistling or as much as humming an air in his cell he is threatened with bread and water and all sorts of pain and penalties. What a length of time it takes for a letter to reach too. For us the minimum seems to be four days. Isn't as bad with you? I had a letter from Tomcoole on Saturday which took 11 days to get here. H. Dixon here had a letter from W. Kelly a day or two ago. It appears he is working in some dispensary in the Mile End Road. He has promised to call to see us here. He was a friend of Joe Dixon's I believe. Are you expecting to be able to go in for your final in October — I hope you won't be disappointed. Still no word as to Nell's release, Remember me to all friends in Stafford Do bhuan chara Seaghán Z Seaghan Z. Letter from Seaghan Z to James Ryan, 12 July 1916Letter from Seaghan Z. to Séamus (James Ryan), 18 July 1916 Stafford, England Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 26 May 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 3 June 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 25 June 1916Letter from 'Teresa'(Agnes Ryan) to James Ryan, 20 May 1916Letter from Seaghan Z. to Séamus (James Ryan), 18 July 1916Letter from Joe to James Ryan, 25 May 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 11 June 1916 Wandsworth, London, England Letter from Seaghan Z to James Ryan, 12 July 1916Letter from Seaghan Z. to Séamus (James Ryan), 18 July 1916