Letter from Michael Collins to Nancy O'Brien, 27 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Michael Collins

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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A letter from Michael Collins (1890-1922) to his cousin Nancy O'Brien (who later married his brother) written from Frongach Internment Camp in Wales. In the letter he discusses conditions at the camp and the release of Irish prisoners, although he does not think he will be counted as one of their number. He also refers to mutual friends. 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.

 National Library of Ireland Michael Collins Papers, 420/2 https://letters1916.ie/item/1316 English Michael Collins 1916-07-27 Frongach Internment Camp, Wales Nancy O'Brien Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

The data in these XML files was generated based on a data dump from the Magellan database (https://github.com/Maynooth-Center-for-Digital-Humanities/Magellan). Each database record has been converted to a JSON file (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/json). The element section of the JSON file contains the TEI-encoded contents of the letters. The TEI XML has been cleaned and made well-formed using a Python script (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/src).

 26/7/16 My Dear Nancy, Honestly I don't know whether or not Ive written to you since receiving a letter from you about a week ago. In any case since coming to this place my correspondence has gone all awry for as Ive told you already we are only allowed two letters weekly & when you add to this several others sent away surreptitiously, many of which have not been delivered — the muddle is clearly understood. Taking all things into account I suppose we have no reason to complain - at any rate I dont. Of course the huts may be overcrowded & the visiting arrangements very inadequate & several other things but even so, in this weather & pretty surroundings there are compensations and we might very easily have been lying cold and stiff or in Dartmoor etc — Just at this moment I suppose you are about to depart for the south. How Id like to be going! Has Hannie returned yet? Well I hope you'll have a right good time & if you meet anybody who takes an interest in me you - can say how well I am & for some time my I only concern was about these proposals. Im glad to see that this particular business has been dropped. Surely John E & Co must be dispirited now, although there are a lot of damn fools knocking about. At present there is great excitement in this 'compound' about the releases - about 40 or 50 daily. One never knows what mistake a Gov Dep might might make; & between you and me I dont think I'm likely to see the shores of Erin for some time. Now how are your colleagues going on? Have written several times to Susan, often some of the letters those already alluded to may not have arrived, but have not had a note from her for some time. Dolly has not written either but she sends the Independent & Id be obliged if youd just say a word of thanks to her on my behalf. Your cigarets came alright & were very good. The grub is much better than we were used to in S — But its not possible to get such thing as as fruit or any kind of decent cake etc. There is a Canteen - a dry one unhappily! where we may get some things in addition to the allowances. I suppose you know Eugene O'Keeffe is here - very well and in good form. Much love Michael 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 Frongach Internment Camp, Wales Letter from M. L. Waller, Home Office, to the Commandant, Prisoner of War Camp, Frongach, 9 October 1916Letter from Michael Collins to Nancy O'Brien, 27 July 1916