Letter from James Ryan to Liam Ó Briain, 1 June 1916 Letters 1916-1923 James Ryan

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Letter from James Ryan (1891–1970) to Liam Ó Briain (1888-1974). The letter was sent from Stafford Detention Camp shortly before both men were transferred to Frongoch. In the letter, Ryan refers to Harry Nicholls [spelled 'Nichols' in the letter] who, like Ó Briain had been unable to find his company and served under Mallin. The letter also refers to a number of others who were imprisoned after the Rising including Darrell Figgis and Seán T. O'Kelly ['Sean T' in the letter] was a politician and later President of Ireland who was married to Ryan's sister Mary Kate. 'Sean' is Seán MacDiarmada, one of the signatories of the 1916 proclamation. He was romantically linked to Ryan's sister Josephine Mary (Min) and Min and her sister Phyllis (who became O'Kelly's second wife) were the last people to visit MacDiarmada before his execution. Ryan also refers to another sister, Agnes, in the letter.J Ó Briain was a member of the Irish Volunteers in Dublin but had been unable to find his company on the outbreak of the Rising and instead fought under Michael Mallin in St Stephen's Green and the Royal College of Surgeons. He later became a renowned scholar of Romance languages. James Ryan (1891-1970) 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 https://letters1916.ie/item/745 English James Ryan 1916-06-01 Stafford Detention Camp, England Liam Ó Briain Wandsworth Prison, London Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 p88/32 Liam O'Brien J Ryan 750 Irish Prisoner Stafford etc June 1. 1916. Dear Liam I wonder how are you going on over there. I suppose much the same as ourselves. You get concess ions often I suppose, and are always hoping for the big concession of being allowed home. I believe Harry Nichols is there too invested in a red beard. You must be as black as the hob by this. I had two letters from the widow I am sure she wrote to you too. I suppose you heard all the news by this, as you are probably getting all the newspapers like ourselves. You know of course that Kit and Nell are in Mountjoy They will be released soon I think. Sean T. is still in Richmond. There is hardly anybody here from Dublin that you know I think. But we have great company in Paddy Keogh, Pim, & Darl Figgis, and T Treanor. I believe we are soon going to be sent to Internment Camps according to 16 'Times'. Perhaps we'll meet there. I hope so any way. Tell Paddy Doyle to be cheerful. We have now got great freedom here and we won't feel the time passing. I applied for release, as I only tended the wounded; I don't know what the result will be. Do you ever hear a good story now? We have not begun to tell them here yet. I think there is rather good material when we do begin. Seán was in the best of form up to the very last. Min and Phyllis paid him a prolonged visit on the last day. We have a great crowd of Enniscorthy fellows here. They established it too I believe. Fr Paul (Walsh M.C.) did a visit the other day. He told us a lot of news. I suppose you have had visitors too. I am sending this letter through Paddy Doyle, who is a great skin. Be sure you give Harry my love. There is going to be no Feis in Wexford I believe. How many of the old crowd would be free to go? Only Power I think. If you have any news let us have it , if not you may say a prayer for me. I shall send your love to the widow when I am writing to her. Agnes is at home at present, as you might expect. No more news now. I must go to the Rosary. James Ryan. 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 Wandsworth Prison, London Letter from James Ryan to Liam Ó Briain, 1 June 1916 Stafford Detention Camp, England Letter from James Ryan to Liam Ó Briain, 1 June 1916