Letter from Katherine Brady to James Ryan, 5 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Katherine Brady

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The letter is from Katherine Brady (K) to James Ryan (1891-1970) and was written while Ryan was imprisoned in Frongach in Wales. She describes in detail a pilgrimage in Lough Derg in which she is taking part (but not enjoying). She also somewhat jokingly refers to the role of northern nationalists in the Irish question and the enactment of Home Rule (which had been postponed owing to the outbreak of World War I). The letter also makes a reference to 'poor Ned' (Ned Daly) who had been executed for his part in the Easter Rising.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, P88/18 https://letters1916.ie/item/232 English Katherine Brady 1916-07-05 Lough Derg, Ireland James Ryan Frongoch detention camp, Wales Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Personal Relations Faith

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 Lough Derg 5th July 1916. My dear Jim, You'll be glad to see I'm here doing penance for your sins I'm sure. They must have been fairly numerous if I'm to judge by the bad time I'm having. Its simply awful. We came here on Mon. evg. a party of 15 from Belfast. We count such illustrious personages as Charlie McAuley, Mrs. McEntee, and two sons younger than John, 5 Bradies & a number of fillers up. We're fairly lively, or were till this morning. Yesterday I did Mass in honour of the 4th May & went back to bed again till 1 o.c. Then we all got up & raced in bare feet over sharp stones till we had said about 1,000 Hail Marys. At 6 o.c. we had our 1st & last meal, black tea & dry bread. Then to Chapel for Benediction. 10 o.c. locked into Chapel till 12 midnight. Only amusement winking at the boys in the row behind & betting on the next person to fall asleep. 12 o.c. interval spent outside in the dark — all sorts of chances but very few taken. Trouble is at the crucial moment you might step on a sharp stone! 1 o.c. about a million Paters & Aves every alternate one standing & kneeling. 4 million of these with 45 min. interval till 5.30. The intervals are quite interesting. The last one enlivened by a row bet. me & an ancient retired German who thinks he owns the island. You'll be astonished to hear he doubts if I'm a lady. Ch. McA. in true pilgrim spirit gave him to understand we were in no doubt as to his (the German's) rank in society. 6 o.c. Mass & now we have nothing to do for the day, & incidentally have nothing to eat. I'm sitting on the edge of the island with my feet dangling in the water trying to keep awake enough to write.The last night I was up for was the ceilid poor Daly* was at. Do you remember the breakfast, or rather the absence of breakfast? If only I had that humble fare now & could eat it. The only excitement here is meeting the boat. We all tear down to see if our 'fate' has arrived. No luck so far alas! I believe you are not in the best of humour with me for leaving you so long without a letter. I was busy you know helping to look after your dependents so you can't blame me for not having time for letter-writing. I left Dublin a week ago so I have no news to give you except that Mairín was looking very happy after getting 2 letters from you in one day. Min came back very dissatisfied with her visit I think. She went at a bad time. Nell seems to be thriving on prison life by all accounts. I wish I could go to Wales for my holidays. I might go yet if things go well. You are all so well hedged in now that I suppose its impossible to see you. Keep up your hearts though. You'll all be out before you know where you are. Don't forget you'll owe your freedom to us noble Nationalists of Ulster! If we hadn't agreed to sacrifice ourselves to the Orange wolves you'd probably be left to rot in gaol! I hope when you come back & Home Rule is in force you'll lead us all by the hand to Dublin & let us have the pick of the jobs! Remember we immolated ourselves solely for you. Its hard to fit in anything in 30 lines isn't it? Did Mairín tell you of our picnic in Tallaght? It was much better from our point of view (as we had very little trouble) than the Scalp & the people enjoyed themselves more. We gave in the money to the N. Aid & I believe they send on the money to you. Hope they do, as of course we would have sent parcels ourselves only for hearing of that. I'm stupid, I can't write so I had better stop. If I wake up during the day I'll write Cole & some others. Best of love to all K *Ned Daly (K.Brady) Frongoch detention camp, Wales Letter from Katherine Brady to James Ryan, 5 July 1916 Lough Derg, Ireland Letter from Katherine Brady to James Ryan, 5 July 1916 James Ryan 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 Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 2 July 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 11 July 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 19 July 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, c. August 1916Letter from Seaghan Z to James Ryan, 12 July 1916Letter from 'Teresa'(Agnes Ryan) to James Ryan, 20 May 1916Letter from Katherine Brady to James Ryan, 5 July 1916Letter from Joe to James Ryan, 25 May 1916Letter from Denis McCullough to James Ryan, c. June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 19 May 1916Letter from Madge Calnan to James Ryan , 8 June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, c. June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 1 June 1916Letter from Madge Calnan to James Ryan, 17 June 1916Postcard from 'M' to James Ryan, 27 May 1916Letter from 'Teresa' (Agnes Ryan) to her brother James Ryan, 4 June 1916Letter from Peggie O'Sullivan, Birmingham, to James Ryan, 1 July 1916Letter from Josephine Mary (Min) Ryan to James Ryan, 29 May 1916Letter from Chris Ryan to James Ryan, 13 June 1916Letter from Jim to James Ryan, 11 July 1916Letter from R. Hickey to James Ryan, 26 May 1916Letter from Mary M to James Ryan, 1916Letter from K.B to James Ryan, c. early June 1916Letter from Maudie Davin to James Ryan, 6 July 1916Letter from Kathleen Teebay, Stafford, England to James Ryan, 4 July 1916Letter from James Ryan to Liam Ó Briain, 1 June 1916Letter from Michael Collins to James Ryan, 23 August 1916Letter from Michael Collins to James Ryan, 2 September 1916Letter from Eamonn T. Dore to James Ryan, 19 September 1916Letter from Sean T. O'Kelly to James Ryan, 26 August 1916Letter from Sean T. O'Kelly to James Ryan, 15 September 1916Letter from Sean T. O'Kelly to James Ryan, 22 October 1916Letter from Mairín Ní Ribhógh to James Ryan, 2 August 1916Letter from Major C. Harold Heathcote to James Ryan, 13 September 1916Letter from Major C. Harold Heathcote to James Ryan, 19 September 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 11 June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, Tuesday 6 June 1916Letter to James Ryan from Frances KellyLetter to James Ryan from MargaretLetter to James Ryan from May GrayLetter from Eamonn T. Dore to James Ryan, c. September 1916Letter from Mort O'Connell to James Ryan, 9 October 1916Letter from Maura [Power] to James Ryan, 18 October 1916Letter from Kathleen Teebay, Stafford, England to James Ryan, 1 August 1916Letter from Kathleen Teebay, Stafford, England to James Ryan, 7 October 1916Letter from D. C., Stafford, England, to James Ryan, 9 August 1916Letter from Peg O'Sullivan, Birmingham, to James Ryan, 2 October 1916 Katherine Brady Letter from Katherine Brady to James Ryan, 5 July 1916