Letter from K.B to James Ryan, c. early June 1916 Letters 1916-1923 K.B.

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A letter from K.B. to James Ryan (1891-1970). K.B. describes that '...writing to an engaged young man is a rather delicate matter...', suggesting that she has an attachment to James. K.B. writes that everybody is delighted to hear that James is doing better than he originally seemed. She enquires if he is held in 'Solitary Confinement,' describes the release of a mutual friend, Kit, and mentions the conditions of prisoners in Wandsworth Prison. She closes asking for suggestions of what to send James, such as books and cigarettes.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, P88/17/001 https://letters1916.ie/item/706 English K.B. Grove Park James Ryan Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 I see Máirín has a parcel of tobacco here for you so I'll send mine elsewhere. K. Early June 1916 82 Grove Park, My dear Jim, Its about time I started to write to you isn't it? To tell the truth what has kept me back is lack of moral courage to ask permission. You know writing to an engaged young man is a rather delicate matter & one must set very rigid limits to all expressions of emotion. Dare I say now I miss you? I don't know, I may be led away by my feelings & find myself in the midst of a most compromising declaration. In case I do you can think like Mother Eucharia that 'these student introductions are not recognized in society' — sicut — I'm sure she added. We were all delighted to hear you are doing somewhat better than you seemed to be at first. I hope you aren't one of the ferocious characters who are kept in solitary confinement. A show ought to be started special attractions 'Rare Specimens of an almost extinct species only found in some parts of Ireland'. I'm sure the prison authorities would make a good thing if they charged all you ordinary people 6 to to see these exotics strange dangerous specimens of Irish. Funny we don't come across them here isn't it. Perhaps its the English air affects them & develops cannabalistic tendencies. There is great news here — Kit is being released or I suppose I should say has been released. She got out at 8.30 this morning, herself & three others. There was to be a great demonstration for her I believe. We of course couldn't get to it. The university people will be delighted. Poor Nell is still a dangerous. Kit was easily tamed evidently. I believe Miss Browne of Wexford and Miss Ffrench Mullin are getting out too, but I'm sure you will have later news from home. They'll write to tell you about Kit. Stan is still in Rathfarnham , & is bearing up well under the disgrace of being connected with such a family. I expect we'll see Kit this evg. but I'll leave the description of the meeting to Mairín. She being nearly one of the family will do it better than an outsider. None of the last 200 deportees have gone to Stafford I see. They are divided over Wandsworth, Knutsford & Wakefield. I went to Richmond for the 1 st time last Thurs. We could never get at visiting hours of course. We saw Seán T. Dinny, Pierce McCann the Connollys, T. McSweeney, Mal de Mer, Gearóid O'S & several others. They told us a crowd was going off that night, so we all went down the quays on spec. We thought we'd only get waving from a distance, but we terrified the soldiers for they let us walk down beside the prisoners & we talked to them all down the quays. The first I saw were P. McCann and little Mal de Mer. Do you remember him foxtrotting at the dances? I walked in the line of soldiers till I got shoved out. Then I went back & came on Seán T. spick & span as usual with rug, overcoat & evening paper. I got in with himself & ffrench Mullin & nearly got deported myself. They were all in great form except Garóid O'S who was at the far side of rank & looked afraid nobody would see him. Terence McS. was in great form & rushed out of his place to ask us to get up a camp near Wakefield for the summer. So you may be watching out for a caravan doing the rounds of the prisons. Pierce Mc & Dinny are gone to Knutsford. They will be all right there as the Manchester people are swarming down I believe with hampers. In Wandsworth they have a great colony, Liam ÓB Cole, Seán T. Garóid, Ginger & ffrench Mullin. We had a great letter from Liam on Sat. He has a beard which he says will put even Harry Nicholls to the blush (though Harry's is red I believe, ) naturally). He was accusing the English of greater atrocities in Ireland than the Germans had inflicted on Belgium. He represented to the officer in charge that no cruelty could equal in refinement that undergone by Irishwomen in being deprived of the consolation of his (Liam's) presence ) But the unfeeling brute only laughed. In Wandsworth they are allowed to talk for several hours every day. I suppose you are too. Is there anyone with you but Power or whatever his name is. I must write to him soon. Will he mind being written to by people he doesn't know. I feel great pity for the country fellows who have nobody to write to them & to give them a send off. I forgot to tell you we gave the boys a great send off on Thurs. They all sang seditious songs all along the route. It was grand to think they couldn't be stopped singing. We were out at a Mass for the Pearses yesterday in Rathfarnham. The place was packed. We have a & got two, to go to Mass yesterday. Margaret says the Countess takes very kindly to the Catholic religion but she can't get over the 5 th & 6 th commandments. Perhaps you could give some tips from your new Theology. You ought to be starting it now. I'm sure the revision of the Bible is complete. Have you got any books to read? What kind do you like. I'm afraid of sending things you have read before, but I suppose you could give them to others even if they didn't appeal to yourself, so I must begin to collect. What about notepaper & pencils. Would they be useful? Send word to any of us & we'll send on anything you want yourself or anything you could give other fellows who are not in the fortunate position of having a crowd of female admirers. I'm sending on a few cigarettes & a little tobacco. I suppose that is always welcome & let us know about anything else. I suppose Mairín has told you Neeson is in Sussex. She letters from him, but no news. Philosophical treatises would be a fit setting for his correspondence. I can't think of anything more to say so I'll wind up. Just I forgot we are setting up a picnic for the relief fund 2/6 for ticketes 1/ for extras on a graduated scale 2 d for holding hands & so on. Could you give suggestions as to what sort of thing we should charge extra for. Love from the four angels as Liam calls us to self Doreen & all the other Bearded Brigade. Yrs. K.B. Grove Park Letter from K.B to James Ryan, c. early 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 K.B. Letter from K.B to James Ryan, c. early June 1916