Letter from Thomas Nally to WB Yeats, 9 January 1916. Letters 1916-1923 Thomas Nally

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This is a letter from Thomas Nally (1869-1932) to W.B. Yeats (1865-1939). The letter concerns Nally's decision to change the names of some of the characters in his play 'Spancel of Death'.Thomas Nally was an Irish playwright and colleague of WB Yeats. His work, the Spancel of Death, was due to open on Easter Tuesday 1916, the play was cancelled due to the Easter Rising. William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and a central figure in the Gaelic Revival, the Irish National Theatre Society and Patron of the Abbey theatre. Yeats had famously written that 'Romantic Ireland is dead and gone, its with O'Leary in the grave.' The events of Easter 1916 challenged his views and brought his attentions back to Ireland.

 National Library of Ireland Thomas Nally Papers, 213/4 https://letters1916.ie/item/850 English Thomas Nally 1916-01-09 Sandymount, Dublin W.B. Yeats Male Culture and the Arts

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 Gilford Lodge Gilford Road Sandymount Dublin 9.1.16 Dear Mr. Yeates Mr. St. John Ervine tells me you have suggested changing the names of the characters in 'The 'Spancel of Death' lest their retention might cause pain, or give offence, to any living descendants of the persons dealt with. Needless to say I should be exceedingly Sorry to give offence to any one, and therefore before writing those names I fully considered such a possibility, there was — up to about five weeks ago — just one person living who might possibly feel agrieved. — Miss Lynch—Blosse, an old lady of 94 years, who was a great grand niece of Sir Harry Lynch— Blosse. But she died at Monkstown about five or six weeks ago, and there is no one else left. As for Sibella Cottle, all the remains of her is merely a memory. She was not a native in the district. Neither was she a peasant. There remains then but the name of the old peasant sorceress Judy Holian. and whilst there are still some peasant descendants of remote kinship to her they most certainly would not claim the connection. Beyond all this, all the names mentioned by me are given in Archdeacon's book, published some sixty years ago, and subscribed for at the time by the then existing Lynch Blosses, Moores. Blakes and others whose names happen to occur in 'The Spancel of Death' The rather gloried in the notoriety You may possibly remember also that Mrs Tynan Hinksom at that time — K.Tynan — published a story dealing with the same incidents and giving the correct names. I happened to tell her the story once at Whitehall and she subsequently published it in some local journal. I remember she did not change the names. So I really do not think it necessary. Of course, if you still think otherwise I shall, but with regret, part with the names; for they are dear to me. You might please let me know as the play has not yet been put into rehearsal. Yours Sincerely T.H. Nally. Sandymount, Dublin Letter from Thomas Nally to WB Yeats, 9 January 1916.Postcard from St John Ervine to Thomas Nally, 14 Jan. 1916 Thomas Nally Letter from Thomas Nally to WB Yeats, 9 January 1916.Postcard from St John Ervine to Thomas Nally, 14 Jan. 1916Copy of letter from Henry A. Robinson to Thomas Nally, 2 April 1916Letter from Sir Henry A Robinson to Thomas Nally, 6 April 1916Letter from Sir Henry Augustus Robinson to Thomas Nally, 2 April 1916 W.B. Yeats Letter from Thomas Nally to WB Yeats, 9 January 1916.Letter from WB Yeats to WT Horton, 24 December 1917Letter from W.B. Yeats to W.T. Horton, 24 December 1917Letter from W.B. Yeats to W.T. Horton, 27 July 1917Letter from W.B. Yeats to W.T. Horton, 31 March 1917Letter from WB Yeats to Harold Edward Monro, 10 June 1921Letter from WB Yeats to Harold Edward Monro, 25 November 1919Letter from WB Yeats to Russell, 14 March 1921Letter from WB Yeats to George Russell, 1922Letter from WB Yeats to Squire, 20 January 1920Letter from Edward Denison Ross to WB Yeats, 18 April 1917Letter from David Wilson to WB Yeats, 4 April 1917Letter from David Wilson to WB Yeats, 11 April 1917Letter from David Wilson to WB Yeats, 13 April 1917Letter from Thomas Sturge Moore to WB Yeats, 20 August 1922Letter from Thomas Sturge Moore to WB Yeats, 6 November 1923