Letter from Nannie Beazley née Hickey to Piaras Béaslaí, 7 October 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from Nannie Beazley née Hickey to Piaras Béaslaí, 7 October 1916

1 Oct 7th 1916 My darling Pierce Again the time comes round to write to you,
& the months are stealing by, & hastening on to the time
of your longed for release. I delayed the portraits because
Nellie Murphy got some new ones done, & I was to send you
one, but owing to their non-arrival I just sent on one I had.
I hope you have got the 4 I sent. Your friend Foley says that
himself & all of his people are quite well & as busy as usual.
His brothers & sisters have gone back to the older business address
as their last business building was destroyed. At your usual
dining club you are constantly spoken of. Lang says the
D.B.C. in O'Connell St is destroyed, & he can't trace
Miss Duggan Shield. Florrie Skeehan, & her husband were up at the Curragh
races, & then came on to Dublin. She has a second baby son â€” her
brother Herbert says she promises to be stoater than him. Lang
met Mabel Beer in Bray recently. She had let her house
in Kingstown, & was living in Bray. I believe Lieutenant
Jack Clancy has been wounded, & Maudie has gone to America
on an operatic tour. Aggie Long was up in Dublin
this last week, to stand an examination for a part in
the Clonmel Technical School. I don't know yet
how she got on. Lang met Vr Long lately in Dublin
& took her to lunch, & she was very anxious about you
& says Aunt Ellie prays for you constantly. Dont you
think I should send you a complete outfit to Portland
when you are leaving as I have all your clothes here
even the ones you brought to Portland? I think I have
most of your belongings â€” except your jewellery â€” & every
thing will be in order for you. I have got your navy &
your black ones cleaned at Campbell's & all your light
suits will go in turn. And now, my own boy, I must
finish as my space is coming to an end. May God keep
& guard & bless you & may He hasten the day of our
happy meeting prays your loving Mother.

Letter from Nannie Beazely to her son Piaras Béaslaí (1881–1965). Nannie mentions that she is organising to send portraits (probably photographs) to her son. She writes that the DBC (Dublin Bakery Company) was destroyed during the Rising. She makes reference to a large number of personal acquaintances and to their recent endeavours and activities - such as visits to the Curragh races and to a Lieutenant Jack Clancy who had wounded and to a Maudy who had gone on an operatic tour. She says that the prison which Piaras Béaslaí is held in is located in Portland. She asks if she should send him a suit for when he is leaving. She is generally making preparations for his release.Béaslaí was an English born influential member of the IRB. He joined the Irish Volunteers on their foundation late in 1913. When visiting his parents he smuggled guns to Ireland. In February of 1916 he published the Fàinne, a publication to organise Gaelic speakers.Béaslaí was an officer during the Easter Rising. He was court-martialled and sentenced to five years’ for his part. In prison he wrote and memorised poems about his captivity. This letter is part of a collection of letters by Piaras’ parents, mostly during Béaslai’s internment. After his release he soon became involved in politics.

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How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__1348.html)