Letter from Michael Collins to James Ryan, 23 August 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Michael Collins

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A letter written from Michael Collins (1890-1922) to James Ryan (1891-1970). The letter was written to Ryan from Frongach internment camp. Ryan had already been released and Collins reports to him about changes in the camp and the conditions and morale of his fellow prisoners.James Ryanstudied 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. Michael Collins served as aide-de-camp to Joseph Plunkett in the GPO during the Rising and was imprisoned in Frongach. He went on to become Minister for Finance in the First Dáil, IRA Director of Information and President of the Provisional Government.

 University College Dublin Archives Dr James Ryan Papers, P 88/34 https://letters1916.ie/item/889 English Michael Collins 1916-08-23 Frongach internment camp, Bala, Wales James Ryan Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Frongoch Bala 23/8/16. My Dear Jim I got your card today and the letter some weeks ago. Was very pleased indeed to hear from you & so were all the gang. Possibly you have heard from one or other of the 'returns' that we were all transferred from the huts to the lower station where they used to make whiskey. Most of us do not appreciate the change as much as we ought to. But there are many consolations all the same. The officers down here take themselves very seriously & insist on trying to do things on a strict military basis. Honestly its most amusing at times but I cannot mention the incidents. They wouldn't be good for the censor and then I couldn't do them justice by reason of the restriction writing places on ones language. Now that there seems to be some certainty as to the definiteness of our stay, things are falling into more organized channels. It has become possible to do a little reading & study. Cards have lost their glamour since your departure (you can take this how you like) but there is a chess tournament for those who play, that seems to be worse. They make the hell of a row over it. You can hear Dick saying magnificent play on my part: a few weeks ago also we had a sports meeting. a great day high tea for the prize winners afterwards It consisted of such things as tinned pears jam & pudding. We gorged ourselves & ended up with a concert, going home late. I hear that most of the men who have gone home are still unemployed — is that so? If it is, some of them would be as well off here — that is in a way. What do you thing of things yourself? I mustn't say anything as so many of my letters have been returned lately! Old Dan is here still — he doesn't seem to be in such good form as was when he used to. I think he is rather disappointed at his continued detention, so too are others, although generally that feeling appears to be wearing off, and some of them are no longer gloomy when they are told that the first couple of winters will be the worst. It is good of you to think about that cake. We are eagerly looking forward to its arrival, and Mort says that he'll eat any—thing you send. Of course he may not have an opportunity as we are no longer at the next table to them. Doras damned in a most whole—hearted manner when I showed him your card. The early rising has sent him be damned entirely. When you see May do not fail to give her my regards or any addition you think suitable. Of course you can explain to any of your friends about the two letters weekly. Have you recovered from the weddings yet? There were numerous speculations as to how must have been enjoying yourself on the occasions. Best wishes from self & all the C. Mick Collins Michael Collins Letter from Michael Collins to Mollie Woods, 24 June 1916Letter from Michael Collins to James Ryan, 23 August 1916Letter from Michael Collins to James Ryan, 2 September 1916Letter from Michael Collins to Nancy O'Brien, 27 July 1916Letter from Michael Collins to Michael Murphy, 1916Letter from Patrick Carey to Michael Collins, 29 November 1915 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 Frongach internment camp, Bala, Wales Letter 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 Eamonn T. Dore to James Ryan, c. September 1916Letter from Mort O'Connell to James Ryan, 9 October 1916