Letter from Mary M to James Ryan, 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Mary M

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This is a letter from Mary M. to James Ryan (1891-1970). She says that she's sorry he's being moved to Frongoch prison, but that her father is there and that he should look him up. She tells him about the exam results that have come out, and says that she heard he has had a chance to use his medical skills in prison.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 James Ryan Papers, P88/25 https://letters1916.ie/item/664 English Mary M 1916-07-01 Church Street, Tipperary James Ryan Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Country and City Life Politics

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 1/7/16 Church St Tipperary Dear Jim, I have just got your P.C. I am awfully sorry you are going to Wales, because in that case I'll never hear from you again. You will be with my Dad. You ought look him up if possible. I do not know how to describe him as I am sure he has changed altogether, with beard and other hirsute attachments, but his number is 306. Tell him to let me know if you get my letter, 'cos its no good writ— ing if they don't get there. Well the old exams are Next section is written sideways across top of page over and luckily I passed. Indeed Miss very unkindly remarked that it was the triumph of idleness. I believe she saw you all —looking very pretty with lovely flowing moustachios, you must look sweet. You no longer resemble me in that case —I don't mean in the latter case. I stayed in town for a week after the results, and only arrived home last night, and of course this corner of the world is about the dullest part of it in which to be at large. I think its terrible for us to be bored, while we have our freedom. We should give it up altogether —but I am afraid it is not easy. I was looking at the results of the final and I am afraid that the only one I remember is Dolittle —the name took my fancy so completely, but I don't think there were more than 8 names up. A girl got first place as usual. Wait till you see me with the Birmingham gold medal for anatomy next year. I'll take you all to dinner in Jammets to celebrate the occasion. If you prefer anywhere else you can let me know before then and I'll make sure that it will be arranged as you wish. I believe there is a terrible crowd of you now in Frongoch. If you heard all the attempts to pronounce that name! I spent about 10 minutes getting lessons in it from Father Paul, and in the end I had to think very hard even before second venture on saying it. Mary Mouyey had a letter from Desmond Ryan the other day. Of course I read it although I had never seen the youth in question. He sent a great collection of extracts from 'Barrack room Ballads' so to speak. I hope you will be all out next year. I am dying to see all the people whose names I know so well now. I was going to ask you a list of questions but of course it is no use as they are destined to remain unanswered, even before they are formulated. I believe there are occasional calls on your medical skill, and I heard you also had athletic possibilities. I always thought you were too good a stud ent to do anything but culti vate your mind. I have therefree whistle I took from you at your dance yet. I must get it mounted and enshrined when I refind it. I'll write again some time soon. Love to all the people I know and even to those I don't know. I don't mind 'picking up you' people. Its not like the ordinary thing. Love from Mary M 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 Mary M Letter from Mary M to James Ryan, 1916 Church Street, Tipperary Letter from Mary M to James Ryan, 1916