Letter from Josephine Mary (Min) Ryan to James Ryan, 29 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Josephine Mary Ryan

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Letter from Josephine Mary 'Min' Ryan (1884–1977) to her brother James Ryan (1891-1970). She writes while Ryan was imprisoned and fills him in on family matters. She describes how she is busy visiting many of the prisoners, including Michael Collins, and wonders why he did not protest about his sentence as he only acted as a doctor in the GPO. She describes how the whole of Henry Street was 'turned upside down during the Rising' and refers to food and other items that she has sent or will send to him.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. Min Ryan had been romantically linked to Sean MacDiarmada (1883-1916) and was one of the last to visit him in his cell before he was executed for his role in the Rising.

 University College Dublin Archives , P88/13 https://letters1916.ie/item/548 English Josephine Mary Ryan 1916-05-29 Tomcoole, Taghmon, County Wexford James Ryan Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Tomcoole, Taghmon May 29th 1916 Dearest Jim, As you see I am here and am taking up my pen to talk to you. There is a fair in Tagh—mon today (the 28th you know) and they have gone out with all sorts. Jack went off in the morn—ing early with 10 cattle and Mick went later (much) with a load of pigs. The Da went too, I don't know when. They have not come home yet but we have heard pigs are cheap — of course they are when we have any. I came down from Dublin with Martin & Maura Power on Friday. Martin was up since Monday seeing us all Kit and Nell included at Mountjoy. Maura is going to stay here a while in the country to recuperate. They have no house now as practically the whole of Henry Street was burned down during the Rising. Nancy is staying in 19 Ranelagh Road. I am only down for a long week end. I am going back tomorrow again as we are all frightfully busy in Dublin now trying to relieve the distress caused by the general upheval. We are not at all Following section written sideways across page Agnes thought it wiser not to go back. Chris is home & up to her eyes papering & painting with Tom Fitz. Note paper stamps etc. were sent on to you today. Will send needle & thread etc. later. I think Agnes will come see Dinny next week end. We have not heard from poor Liam or Harry yet. Can you get papers? despondent however. Dublin is not at all bad even though one has a dreadful longing for the peace and solace of the country in this beautiful season. Phyllis is working away for her Exam in 19 but we are kept very busy between callers and visiting Kit, Nell, Seán Z, Dinny etc. etc. My Seán sent you special messages & a cigarette case. We miss him dreadfully. I don't know how long I shall remain in Dublin. I shall probably come home again in June for a while — or I may go to London for a time. In that case I will surely go see you. Of course we are expecting you & the others will get out soon. After all no one can understand your being detained considering it can be proved you were only acting as Dr. Why don't you protest hard? I have engaged a lawyer in Dublin about your case so we'll see what can be done. I dare say you will have seen Fr. Paul by the time this arrives. He said he would go see you last week. The work seems to be going on very well here. They are a bit late on account of the late spring but still an all! The big meadow is in tremendous form. A beautiful field of oats and they are working at the Rozz Meadow to put in the green crops. Do you ever see Paddy Kehoe. Give him our love and tell him Agnes says 'They'll be a bad crop this year'. I wonder is there anything he would like us to send him? By the way did you get everything we sent you the first time from Ranelagh Rd. We sent trousers, handkerchiefs, shirts, collars, towel soap etc. We'll send you anything else you ask for. They will send you sausage, cheese & home—made bread on Wednesday from here. Did you get any of Maureen's letters? She said she wrote a couple of long letters. She & Kathleen & the Hostel girls come in to 19 very often. They are all splendid. Did you get the medical books & the brack we sent? Can you smoke? Mother is getting on grand and every one here is happy enough about you. 'What fear of you!' is the tone. Still we all hope to see you soon — long before Chris' wedding in August. But you need not worry about anyone. Be happy if you can. But for Seán we would be all very happy as it is. Love from all here Yr. affec Sister Min. Love to all Wexford there. Let us know if you got everything right. Tomcoole, Taghmon, County Wexford Letter from Josephine Mary (Min) Ryan to James Ryan, 29 May 1916 Josephine Mary Ryan Letter from Josephine Mary (Min) Ryan to James Ryan, 29 May 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