Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 1 June 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Phyllis Ryan

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Letter from Philomena (Phyllis) Frances Ryan (1895-1983) to an imprisoned James Ryan (1891-1970). She refers to newspapers she had sent and to a proposal to send some money or other goods. Phyllis fills in James concerning friends and family and refers to the upcoming wedding of another sister, Agnes, to Denis McCullough (1883-1968). McCullough ran a piano tuning business in Belfast and had been arrested after the 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. Philomena Frances Ryan was James Ryan's youngest sister. She worked as a chemist, and later became the second wife of Seán T. O'Kelly, president of Ireland. (Kelly had been married to Phyllis's sister until her death.)

 University College Dublin Archives Dr James Ryan Papers, P 88/7 (1) https://letters1916.ie/item/413 English Phyllis Ryan 1916-06-01 19 Ranelagh Road, Dublin, Ireland James Ryan Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Personal Relations

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 19 Ranelagh Rd. Dublin. 1st June 1916. My dearest Jim, I daresay you are surprised not to have written to you lately. I had intended writing a day or two ago but Min came back Tuesday night and she told me you she had written to you that morning with all the news. I sent you some papers every day. I hope you got them safely. I sent a big bunch of back numbers one day which I really hope you got, as it would have given you a good deal of insight into the happenings since you left us. We have been having a good deal of news of you of late from various sources. First of all from Mr. Callanan who seems to be very decent to you, and then we hear from Fr. Paul today of your interview. I wrote to Mr. Callanan today asking him to find out if you wanted money, now since we hear you can buy things for yourself. We shall send him some for you if you wanted it. They intend sending you food from home often, so we are more or less leaving it to them, but we shall send you some too. Tell us when writing to anyone again all about yourself and your needs in that way. It mustn't be too bad now, that you can talk, and all to that. How is Paddy Kehoe, and how are all the others. Does Dave feel alright. Anything we could do for him or anyone. What papers would you like best. There isn't any choice indeed now! Well, this evening we went down seeing off a great batch of prisoners for England. They are practically all deported now except perhaps about 20. Sean C is gone this evg. to Wandsworth, Dinny to Knutsford, and some to Wakefield too. Pity none to Stafford. G. O'Sullivan, Ginger, McCann, McGowan, McSweeney, O'Hanrahan are all gone this evening. We have no more to visit in Richmond Barracks now. We are sorry they are all gone, but they will fare better in England than being tried I am sure. They were in splendid form going off, and we gave them a great send off. Séan asked for you several times. I suppose you see Michael often too. Agnes had intended coming up this week-end to see Denis, but now she has missed him. Sean & Liam will be together anyway. Min I think may go to London for a week or so some time soon. If so she will of course go see you on the way. But don't raise your hopes too high as she may not go at all. She is at present very busy working on Committee of Irish National Aid Association, for funds for all your wives and dependants! All her work is over of course. She was at home from Friday to Tuesday and they were all in great form. Chris is preparing for her wedding in Summer some time. Agnes I think also contemplates bringing hers off even behind the bars some day quietly, and then going to take up the mans work. Can you imagine her selling the strings in the shop. Maura Power is staying down at home at present for the good of the health. Tom Fitz is doing up the house down there. My Botany Pass exam is on 19th June. I am trying very hard to work for it, and I hope to get through, then I shall only have the Chemistry Honours to do for Autumn. Kate & Nell are getting on well. They are getting concessions granted like yourself too. They have a common room to sleep live in now, and just sleep in their cells. Not much news of their release as yet; or anything that is to be done with them. We see them every day nearly, and Kathleen Browne too. Maureen gave me all the news that she had from you and the Widow always keeps asking for you. All the girls are as usual, and the few women men that are left. Conroy is at large again. Give my love to all the boys. Dore, Balfour, P Kehoe and the whole of them. Much love from us all. Yours, Phyllis. 19 Ranelagh Road, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 19 May 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, c. June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 1 June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, Tuesday 6 June 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 Phyllis Ryan Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 19 May 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, c. June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 1 June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, Tuesday 6 June 1916