1
101 Lower Mount St. Dublin 1916 Dear Mrs. Skeffinton I am sorry to have
missed you tonight. Certainly I will change my
piece to 'Brian Boy Magee'
I sent on The death of Emmet
because I don't often do it
and I thought maybe
people were tired of hearing
me do Brian—B—M— but
indeed I don't mind a bit
if you prefer it. 'Five Souls' is a very
beautiful poem and if I
can learn it I will do so
for you, but I am very full
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This week I am going down to
Enniscorthy on Thursday to a
concert and I have to learn
a new piece for them a
piece of prose 'Concessions be
damned' very strong I must
say and if you would like
it you can have it with all my
heart— it is not Brian
O'Higgins but I got it from
'The Voice of Freedom' an extract
from a leading article of
'Irish Freedom' and very
appropriate. In haste
Yours very sincerely Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh
Letter from Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh (1883-1958) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946).
Máire writes that she would be very happy to perform a recommended poem, assuming
she is able to learn it in time. Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh was an Irish actress and republican
activist. She performed for many years at the Abbey Theatre. At the time of the Rising,
Nc Shiubhlaigh cycled into the city and commanded the women's of the Jacob's Biscuit
Factory garrison, which was wholly under the command of Thomas MacDonagh. She and
the other women stayed until the surrender. Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, suffragette,
nationalist, language teacher, was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington (who was
summarily executed on 26 April 1916). She was active during the Rising, bringing food
to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before
she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't
until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged.